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30NGS FROM BOOKS 



Sones From Books 



By Rudyard Kipling 




PUBLISHED BY 

DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANl 

FOR 

REVIEW OF REVIEWS CO. 
1914 






Copyright, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1899, 1900> 

1901, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1909, 1910, 1912, by 

RuDYARD Kipling 

All rights reserved, including that of 

translation into foreign languages, 

including the Scandinavian 






GIFT 



MPR241946 
TREUBMRYOFCeNBiiSS 



I- 





PREFACE 

I have collected in this volume practically all 
the verses and chapter-headings scattered through 
my books, with the exception of the Jungle 
Boohs and the Just So Stories. In several 
cases where only a few lines of [verse ■;were 
originally used I have given in full the song, 
etc., from which they were taken. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 
CONTENTS 



SONG 

"Cities and Thrones and Powers" 

The Recall 

Puck's Song 

The Way Through the Woods 

A Three Part Song 

The Run of the Downs 

Brookland Road 

The Sack of the Gods 

The Kingdom 

Tarrant Moss 

Sir Richard's Song 

A Tree Song 

Cuckoo Song 

A Charm 

The Prairie 

Cold Iron 

A Carol 

"My New Cut Ashlar" 

Eddi's Service 

The Fairies' Siege 

A Song to Mithras 

The New Knighthood 

Harp Song of the Dane Women 

Chapter Headings 

The Thousandth Man 

l^he Winners 

A St. Helena Lullaby 

The Captive 

The Puzzler 

tiadramauti 



BOOK 

Puck of Pook's Hill 

Actions and Reactions 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Rewards and Fairies 

Naulakha 

Naulakha 

Plain Tales 

Puck 

Puck 

Heathfield Parish Memoirs 

Rewards and Fairies 

Letters to the Family 

Rewards and Fairies 

Rewards and Fairies 

Life's Handicap 

Rewards and Fairies 

Kim 

Puck 

Actions and Reactions 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 
Story of the Gadsbys 
Rewards and Fairies 
Traflfics and Discoveries 
Actions and Reactions 
Plain Tales 



CONTENTS 



SdNG 

Gallio's Song 

The Bees and the Flies 

"Our Fathers Also" 

A British-Roman Song 

A Pict Song 

The Stranger 

"Rimini" 

"Poor Honest Men" 

"When the Great Ark" 

Prophets at Home 

Jubal and Tubal Cain 

The Voortrekker 

A School Song 

"A Servant When He Reigneth' 

"Om- Fathers of Old" 

The Heritage 

Song of the Fifth River 

Chapter Headings 

The Children's Song 

If 

The Prodigal Son 

The Necessitarian 

The Jester 

A Song of Travel 

The Two-Sided Man 

An Astrologer's Song 

"The Power of the Dog" 

The Rabbi's Song 

The Bee Boy's Song 

The Return of the Children 

Old Mother Laidinwool 

The Looking-Glass 

The Queen's Men 

The City of Sleep 

The Widower 

The Prayer of Miriam Cohen 

Gow's Watch 

The Wishing Caps 



BOOK 

Actions and Reactions 

Actions and Reactions 

Traffics and Discoveries 

Puck 

Puck 

Letters to the Family 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Letters to the Family 

Puck 

Letters to the Family 

Collected 

Stalky & Co. 

Letters to the Family 

Rewards and Fairies 

The Empire and the Century 

Puck 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Kim 

Traffics and Discoveries 

Collected 

Letters to the Family 

Kim 

Rewards and Fairies 

Actions and Reactions 

Actions and Reactions 

Puck 

Traffics and Discoveries 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Rewards and Fairies 

The Day's Work 

Various \ 

Many Inventions 

Kim 

Kim 



CONTENTS 



SONG 

"By the Hoof of the Wild Goat" 

Chapter Headings 
Song of the Red Warboat 
Blue Roses 
Butterflies' 
My Lady's Law 
The Nursing Sister 
The Love Song of Har Dyal 
A Dedication 
Mother o' Mine 
The Only Son 
Romulus and Remus 
The Egg-shell 
The King's Task 
Poseidon's Law 
A Truthful Song 
A Smuggler's Song 
King Henry VII and the Ship- 
wrights 
The Wet Litany 
The Ballad of Mmepit Shaw 
Heriot's Ford 
Frankie's Trade 
The Juggler's Song 
Thorkild's Song 
Song of the Men's Side 
The Four Angels 
A Song of Kabir 



BOOK 



Plain Tales 



Rewards and Fairies 
Light That Failed 
Traffics and Discoveries 
Naulakha 
Naulakha 
Plain Tales 
Soldiers Three 
Light That Failed 
Many Inventions 
Letters to the Family 
Traffics and Discoveries 
Traffics and Discoveries 
Traffics and Discoveries 
Rewards and Fairies 
Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Traffics and Discoveries 

Rewards and Fairies 

Light That Failed 

Rewards and Fairies 

Naulakha 

Puck 

Rewards and Fairies 

Actions and Reactions 

Kim 



CITIES AND THRONES AND POWERS 

Cities and Thrones and Powers, 

Stand in Time's eye. 
Almost as long as flowers. 

Which daily die; 
But, as new buds put forth 

To glad new men. 
Out of the spent and unconsidered Earth 

The Cities rise again. 

This season's Daffodil, 

She never hears. 
What change, what chance, what chill. 

Cut down last year's: 
But with bold countenance, 

And knowledge small. 
Esteems her seven days' continuance^ 

To be perpetual. 

So Time that is o'er-Jcind, 

To all that be. 
Ordains us e'en as blind. 

As bold as she: 
That in our very death. 

And burial sure. 
Shadow to shadow, well-persuaded, saith, 

" See how our works endure!" 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 



Songs from Books 

THE RECALL 

I am the land of their fathers. 
In me the virtue stays. 
I will bring back my children. 
After certain days. 

Under their feet in the grasses 
My clinging magic runs. 
They shall return as strangers. 
They shall remain as sons. 

Over their heads in the branches 
Of their new-bought, ancient trees, 
I weave an incantation 
And draw them to my knees. 

Scent of smoke in the evening. 
Smell of rain in the night, 

3 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 

The hours, the days and the seasons. 
Order their souls aright; 

Till I make plain the meaning 

Of all my thousand years — 

Till I fill their hearts with knowledge. 

While I fill their eyes with tears. 



PUCK'S SONG 

See you the ferny ride that steals 
Into the oak-woods far? 
O that was whence they hewed the keels 
That rolled to Trafalgar. 

And mark you where the ivy clings 
To Bayham's mouldering walls? 
O there we cast the stout railhigs 
That stand around St. Paul's. 

See you the dimpled track that runs 
All hollow through the wheat? 
O that was where they hauled the guns 
That smote King Philip's fleet. 

Out of the Weald, the secret Weald, 
Men sent in ancient years. 
The horse-shoes red at Flodden Field, 
The arrows at Poitiers. 

6 



6 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

See you our little mill that clacks, 

So busy by the brook? 

She has ground her corn and paid her tax 

Ever since Domesday Book. 

See you our stilly woods of oak? 
And the dread ditch beside? 
O that was where the Saxons broke 
On the day that Harold died. 

See you the windy levels spread 
About the gates of Rye? 
O that was where the Northmen fled. 
When Alfred's ships came by. 

See you our pastures wide and lone, 
Where the red oxen browse? 
O there was a City thronged and known. 
Ere London boasted a house. 

And see you, after rain, the trace 
Of mound and ditch and wall? 
O that was a Legion's camping-place, 
When Csesar sailed from Gaul. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 

And see you marks that show and fade. 
Like shadows on the Downs? 
O they are the Hnes the Fhnt Men made. 
To guard their wondrous towns. 

Trackway and Camp and City lost. 
Salt Marsh where now is corn; 
Old Wars, old Peace, old Arts that cease. 
And so was England born! 

She is not any common Earth, 
Water or wood or air. 
But Merlin's Isle of Gramarye, 
Where you and I will fare. 



THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS 

They shut the road through the woods 

Seventy years ago. 

Weather and rain have undone it again. 

And now you would never know 

There was once a road through the woods 

Before they planted the trees. 

It is underneath the coppice and heath, 

And the thin anemones. 

Only the keeper sees 

That, where the ring-dove broods. 

And the badgers roll at ease, 

There was once a road through the woods. 

Yet, if you enter the woods 

Of a summer evening late. 

When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed 

pools 
Where the otter whistles his mate 
(They fear not men in the woods. 
Because they see so few), 

8 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 9 

You will hear the beat of a horse's feet. 

And the swish of a skirt in the dew. 

Steadily cantering through 

The misty solitudes. 

As though they perfectly knew 

The old lost road through the woods . . . 

But there is no road through the woods. 



A THREE-PART SONG 

I'm just in love with all these three, 

The Weald and the Marsh and the Down eoun- 

trie; 
Nor I don't know which I love the most. 
The Weald or the Marsh or the white chalk 

coast! 

I've buried my heart in a ferny hill, 
Twix' a liddle low shaw an' a great high gill. 
Oh hop-bine yaller an' wood-smoke blue, 
I reckon you'll keep her middling true! 

I've loosed my mind for to out and run 
On a Marsh that was old when Kings begun. 
Oh Romney Level and Brenzett reeds, 
I reckon you know what my mind needs! 

I've given my soul to the Southdown grass. 
And sheep-bells tinkled where you pass. 
Oh Firle an' Ditchling an' sails at sea, 
I reckon you keep my soul for me! 

10 



THE BUN OF THE DOWNS 

The Weald is goody the Downs are best — 

ril give you the run of 'em. East to West. 

Beachy Head and Winddoor Hill, 

They were once and they are still, 

Firle, Mount Caburn and Mount Harry 

Go back as far as sums '11 carry. 

Ditchling Beacon and Chanctonbury Ring, 

They have looked on many a thing. 

And what those two have missed between 'em 

I reckon Truleigh Hill has seen 'em. 

Highden, Bignor and Duncton Down 

Knew Old England before the Crown. 

Linch Down, Treyford and Sunwood 

Knew Old England before the Flood. 

And when you end on the Hampshire side — 

Butser's old as Time and Tide. 

The Downs are sheep, the Weald is corn. 

You be glad you are Sussex born! 



11 



BROOEXAND ROAD 

I was very well pleased with what I knowed, 
I reckoned myself no fool — 
Till I met with a maid on the Brookland Road, 
That turned me back to school. 

Low down — low down! 
Where the liddle green lanterns shine — 
maids, Fve done with 'ee all but one. 
And she can never be mine! 

'Twas right in the middest of a hot June night, 
With thunder duntin' round. 
And I see'd her face by the fairy light 
That beats from off the ground. 

She only smiled and she never spoke. 
She smiled and went away; 
But when she'd gone my heart was broke 
And my wits was clean astray. 

12 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 13 

O, stop your ringing and let me be — 
Let be, O Brookland bells! 
You'll ring Old Goodman* out of the sea. 
Before I wed one else! 

Old Goodman's Farm is rank sea sand. 
And was this thousand year; 
But it shall turn to rich plough land 
Before I change my dear. 

O, Fairfield Church is water-bound 
From autumn to the spring; 
But it shall turn to high hill ground 
Before my bells do ring. 

O, leave me walk on the Brookland Road, 
In the thunder and warm rain — 
O, leave me look where my love goed. 
And p'raps I'll see her again! 

Low down — low down! 
Where the liddle green lanterns shine — 
maids, Fve done with ^ee all hut one. 
And she can never be mine! 



•Earl Godwin of the Goodwin Sands? 



THE SACK OF THE GODS 

Strangers drawn from the ends of the earth, 
jewelled and plumed were we; 

I was Lord of the Inca race, and she was Queen 
of the Sea. v 

Under the stars beyond our stars where the new- 
forged meteors glow, 

Hotly we stormed Valhalla, a million years ago. 

Ever ^neaih high Valhalla Hall the well-tuned 

horns begin 
When the swords are out in the underworld, and 

the weary Gods come in. 
Ever through high Valhalla Gate the Patient Angel 

goes 
He opens the eyes that are blind with hate — he 

joins the hands of foes. 

Dust of the stars was under our feet, glitter of 
stars above — 

14 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 15 

Wrecks of our wrath dropped reeling down as 
we fought and we spurned and we strove. 

Worlds upon worlds we tossed aside, and scat- 
tered them to and fro. 

The night that we stormed Valhalla, a million 
years ago! 

They are forgiven as they forgive all those dark 

wounds and deep. 
Their beds are made on the lap of Time and they 

lie down and sleep. 
They are forgiven as they forgive all those old 

wounds that bleed. 
They shut their eyes from their worshippers. 

They sleep till the world has need. 

She with the star I had marked for my own — I 
with my set desire — 

Lost in the loom of the Night of Nights — 
lighted by worlds afire — 

Met in a war against the Gods where the head- 
long meteors glow. 

Hewing our wav to Valhalla, a million years 
ago! 



16 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

They will come hack — come back again, as long 

as the red Earth rolls. 
He never wasted a leaf or a tree. Do you think 

He would squander souls? 



THE KINGDOM 

Now we are come to our Kingdom, 

And the State is thus and thus; 

Our legions wait at the Palace gate — 

Little it profits us, 

Now we are come to our Kingdom! 

Now we are come to our Kingdom, 
And the Crown is ours to take — 
With a naked sword at the Council board, 
And under the throne the snake. 
Now we are come to our Kingdom! 

Now we are come to our Kingdom, 

And the Realm is ours by right, 

With shame and fear for our daily cheer. 

And heaviness at night, 

Now we are come to our Kingdom! 

Now we are come to our Kingdom, 

But my love's eyelids fall. 

All that I wrought for, all that I fought for, 

17 



18 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Delight her nothing at all. 
My crown is of withered leaves, 
For she sits in the dust and grieves. 
Now we are come to our Kingdom! 



TABRANT MOSS 

I closed and drew for my love's sake 
That now is false to me. 
And I slew the Reiver of Tarrant Moss 
And set Dumeny free. 

They have gone down, they have gone down. 
They are standing all arow — 
Twenty knights in the peat-water, 
That never struck a blow! 

Their armour shall not dull nor rust. 
Their flesh shall not decay. 
For Tarrant Moss holds them in trust. 
Until the Judgment Day. 

Their soul went from them in their youth. 
Ah God, that mine had gone, 
Whenas I leaned on my love's truth 
And not on my sword alone! 

w 19 



20 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Whenas I leaned on lad's belief 

And not on my naked blade — 

And I slew a thief, and an honest thief. 

For the sake of a worthless maid. 

They have laid the Reiver low in his place, 
They have set me up on high, 
But the twenty knights in the peat-water 
Are luckier than I. 

And ever they give me gold and praise 
And ever I mourn my loss — 
For I struck the blow for my false love's sake 
And not for the Men of the Moss! 



Sm RICHARD'S SONG 

(A. D. 1066) 

I followed my Duke ere I was a lover. 
To take from England fief and fee; 

But now this game is the other way over 
But now England hath taken me! 

I had my horse, my shield and banner. 
And a boy's heart, so whole and free; 

But now I sing in another manner — 
But now England hath taken me! 

As for my Father in his tower. 
Asking news of my ship at sea; 

He will remember his own hour — 
Tell him England hath taken me! 

As for my Mother in her bower, 

That rules my Father so cunningly. 

She will remember a maiden's power — 
Tell her England hath taken me! 

21 



2^ SONGS FEOM BOOKS 

As for my Brother in Rouen City, 
A nimble and naughty page is he, 

But he will come to suffer and pity — 
Tell him England hath taken me! 

As for my little Sister waiting 

In the pleasant orchards of Normandie, 
Tell her youth is the time for mating — 

Tell her England hath taken me! 

As for my Comrades in camp and highway. 
That lift their eyebrows scornfully. 

Tell them their way is not my way — 
Tell them England hath taken me! 

Kings and Princes and Barons famed. 
Knights and Captains in your degree; 

Hear me a little before I am blamed — 
Seeing England hath taken me! 

Howso great man's strength be reckoned, 
There are two things he cannot flee; 

Love is the first, and Death is the second — 
And Love in England hath taken me! 



A TREE SONG 

(A. D. 1200) 

Of all the trees that grow so fair. 

Old England to adorn. 
Greater are none beneath the Sun, 

Than Oak, and Ash, and Thorn. 
Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn, good sirs 

(All of a Midsummer morn!) 
Surely we sing no little thing. 

In Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 

Oak of the Clay lived many a day, 

Or ever ^neas began; 
Ash of the Loam was a lady at home, 

When Brut was an outlaw man. 
Thorn of the Down saw New Troy Town 

(From which was London born); 
Witness hereby the ancientry 

Of Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 

Yew that is old in churchyard mould. 
He breedeth a mighty bow. 

23 



24 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Alder for shoes do wise men choose. 

And beech for cups also. 
But when ye have killed, and your bowl is^ 
spilled. 

And your shoes are clean outworn, 
Back ye must speed for all that ye need, 

To Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 

EUum she hateth mankind, and waiteth 

Till every gust be laid. 
To drop a limb on the head of him 

That anyway trusts her shade: 
But whether a lad be sober or sad. 

Or mellow with ale from the horn. 
He will take no wrong when he lieth along 

'Neath Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 

Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight, 

Or he would call it a sin; 
But — we have been out in the woods all, 
night, 

A-conjuring Summer in! 
And we bring you news by word of mouth — / 

Good news for cattle and corn — 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 25 

Now is the Sun come up from the South, 
With Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 

Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn, good sirs 

(All of a Midsummer morn!) 
England shall bide till Judgment Tide, 

By Oak, and Ash, and Thorn! 



CUCKOO SONG 

(Spring begins in Southern England on the 14th April, on which 
date the Old Woman lets the Cuckoo out of her basket at Heathfield 
Fair — locally known as Heffle Cuckoo Fair) 

Tell it to the locked-up trees, 
Cuckoo, bring your song here! 
Warrant, Act and Summons, please, 
For Spring to pass along here! 
Tell old Winter, if he doubt. 
Tell him squat and square — a! 
Old Woman! 
Old Woman! 

Old Woman's let the Cuckoo out 
At Heffle Cuckoo Fair — a! 

March has searched and April tried--* 

'Tisn't long to May now. 

Not so far to V/hitsuntide 

And Cuckoo's come to stay now! 

Hear the valiant fellow shout 

Down the orchard bare — a ! 

Old Woman! 

Old Woman! 

Old Woman's let the Cuckoo out 

At Heffle Cuckoo Fair — a! 

£6 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 27 

When your heart is young and gay 

And the season rules it — 

Work your works and play your play 

'Fore the Autumn cools it! 

Kiss you turn and turn about, 

But my lad, beware — a! 

Old Woman! 

Old Woman! 

Old Woman's let the Cuckoo oat 

At Heffle Cuckoo Fair — a! 



A CHARM 

Take of English earth as much 
As either hand may rightly cluteho 
In the taking of it breathe 
Prayer for all who lie beneath. 
Not the great nor well-bespoke. 
But the mere uncounted folk 
Of whose life and death is none 
Report or lamentation. 

Lay that earth upon thy heart. 
And thy sickness shall depart! 

It shall sweeten and make whole 
Fevered breath and festered soul; 
It shall mightily restrain 
Over-busy hand and brain; 
It shall ease thy mortal strife 
'Gainst the immortal woe of life, 
Till thyself restored shall prove 
By what grace the Heavens do move^ 

28 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 29 

Take of English flowers these — 
Spring's full-faced primroses. 
Summer's wild wide-hearted rose. 
Autumn's wall-flower of the close. 
And, thy darkness to illume. 
Winter's bee-thronged ivy-bloom. 
Seek and serve them where they bide 
From Candlemas to Christmas-tide, 

For these simples, used aright. 

Can restore a failing sight. 

These shall cleanse and purify 
Webbed and inward-turning eye; 
These shall show thee treasure hid. 
Thy familiar fields amid; 
And reveal (which is thy need) 
Every man a King indeed! 



THE PRAIRIE 

^*I see the grass shake in the sun for leagues on 

either hand, 
I see a river loop and run about a treeless land — 
An empty plain, a steely pond, a distance 

diamond-clear, 
And low blue naked hills beyond. 4^nd what is 

that to fear?" 

"Go softly by that river-side or, when you 
would depart. 

You'll find its every winding tied and knotted 

round your heart. 
Be wary as the seasons pass, or you may ne'er 

outrun 
The wind that sets that yellowed grass a-shiver 

'neath the Sun." 

"I hear the summer storm outblown — the 

drip of the grateful wheat. 
I hear the hard trail telephone a far-oflF horse's 

feet. 

80 



SONGS FROM BOOKS SI 

I hear the horns of Autumn blow to the wild- 
fowl overhead; 

And I hear the hush before the snow. And 
what is that to dread?" 

"Take heed what spell the lightning weaves — 
what charm the echoes shape — 

Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul 
may not escape. 

Bar home the door of summer nights lest those 
high planets drown 

The memory of near delights in all the longed- 
for town." 

"What need have I to long or fear.^ Now, 

friendly, I behold 
My faithful seasons robe the year in silver and 

in gold. 
Now I possess and am possessed of the land 

where I would be. 
And the curve of half Earth's generous breast 

shall soothe and ravish me!" 



COLD IRON 

**Gold is for the mistress — silver for the maid — 
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade, " 
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall, 
"But Iron — Cold Iron — is master of them 
all." 

So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege. 
Camped before his citadel and summoned it to 

siege. 
"Nay!" said the cannoneer on the castle wall, 
"But Iron — Cold Iron — shall be master of 

you all!" 

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong. 
When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along! 
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall. 
And Iron — Cold Iron — was master of it all. 

32 



SONGS FROM BOOKS S3 

Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a 

Lord!) 
"What if I release thee now and give thee back 

thy sword?" 
"Nay!" said the Baron, "mock not at my fall. 
For Iron — Cold Iron — is master of men all. " 



^^ Tears are for the craven^ sprayers are for the 

clown — 
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown. " 
"As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small. 
For Iron — Cold Iron — must be master of 

men all!" 



Yet his King made answer (few such Kings 

there be!) 
"Here is Bread and here is Wine — sit and 

sup with me. 
Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I 

do recall 
How Iron — Cold Iron — can be master of 

men all!" 



34 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

He took the Wine and blessed It. He blessed 

and brake the Bread. 
With His own Hands He served Them, and 

presently He said: 
"See! These Hands they pierced with nails 

outside My city wall 
Show Iron — Cold Iron — to be master of men 

all! 

"Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for 

the strong. 
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised 

with wrong. 
I forgive thy treason — I redeem thy fall — 
For Iron — Cold Iron — must be master of 

men all!" 

*^ Crowns are for the valiant — sceptres for the 

bold! 
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare 

to take and hold/^ 
"Nay!" said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, 
"But Iron — Cold Iron — is master of man all! 
Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!" 



A CAROL 

Our Lord Who did the Ox command 

To kneel to Judah's King, 
He binds His frost upon the land 

To ripen it for Spring — 
To ripen it for Spring, good sirs, 

According to His Word. 
Which well must be as ye can see — 

And who shall judge the Lord? 

When we poor fenmen skate the ice 

Or shiver on the wold. 
We hear the cry of a single tree 

That breaks her heart in the cold — 
That breaks her heart in the cold, good sirs. 

And rendeth by the board. 
Which well must be as ye can see — 

And who shall judge the Lord? 

Her wood is crazed and little worth 
Excepting as to burn, 

35 



36 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

That we may warm and make our mirth 

Until the Spring return — 
Until the Spring return, good sirs, 

When people walk abroad. 
Which well must be as ye can see — 

And who shall judge the Lord? 

God bless the master of thia house. 

And all that sleep therein! 
And guard the fens from pirate folk, 

And keep us all from sin, 
To walk in honesty, good sirs. 

Of thought and deed and word! 
Which shall befriend our latter end — 

And who shall judge the Lord? 



«MY NEW CUT ASHLAR' 

My new cut ashlar takes the Ught 
Where crimson-blank the windows flare. 
By my own work before the night. 
Great Overseer, I make my prayer. 

If there be good in that I wrought 
Thy Hand compelled it, Master, Thine — 
Where I have failed to meet Thy Thought 
I know, through Thee, the blame was mine. 

The depth and dream of my desire. 
The bitter paths wherein I stray — 
Thou knowest Who hast made the Fire, 
Thou knowest Who hast made the Clay. 

Who, lest all thought of Eden fade, 
Bring'st Eden to the craftsman's brain — 
Godlike to muse o'er his own Trade 
And manlike stand with God again! 

37 



38 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

One stone the more swings into place 
In that dread Temple of Thy worth. 
It is enough that through Thy Grace 
I saw nought common in Thy Earth. 

Take not that vision from my ken -- 
Oh whatsoe'er may spoil or speed. 
Help me to need no aid from men 
That I may help such men as need! 



EDDI'S SERVICE 

(A. D. 687) 

Eddi, priest of St. Wilfrid 

In the chapel at Manhood End, 

Ordered a midnight service 
For such as cared to attend. 

But the Saxons were keeping Christmas, 
And the night was stormy as well. 

Nobody came to service 
Though Eddi rang the bell. 



6( 



6< 



Wicked weather for walking," 
Said Eddi of Manhood End. 

But I must go on with the service 
For such as care to attend." 



The altar-candles were lighted, — 
An old marsh donkey came. 

Bold as a guest invited. 

And stared at the guttering flame. 

39 



40 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

The storm beat on at the windows. 
The water splashed on the floor, 

And a wet yoke-weary bullock 
Pushed in through the open door. 

"How do I know what is greatest. 
How do I know what is least? 

That is My Father's business," 
Said Eddi, Wilfrid's priest. 

"But — three are gathered together — 

Listen to me and attend. 
I bring good news, my brethren!" 

Said Eddi of Manhood End. 

And he told the Ox of a Manger 

And a Stall in Bethlehem, 
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider, 

That rode to Jerusalem. 

They steamed and dripped in the chancel^ 
They listened and never stirred, 

While, just as though they were Bishops, 
Eddi preached them The Word. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 41 

Till the gale blew off on the marshes 
And the windows showed the day. 

And the Ox and the Ass together 
Wheeled and clattered away. 

And when the Saxons mocked him. 

Said Eddi of Manhood End, 
"I dare not shut His chapel 

On such as care to attend/^ 



THE FAIRIES' SIEGE 

I have been given my charge to keep — 

Well have I kept the same! 

Playing with strife for the most of my lifej 

But this is a different game. 

I'll not fight against swords unseen. 

Or spears that I cannot view — 

Hand him the keys of the place on your knees 

'Tis the Dreamer whose dreams come true! 

Ask for his terms and accept them at once 

Quick, ere we anger him, go! 

Never before have I flinched from the guns, 

But this is a different show. 

I'll not fight with the Herald of God 

(I know what his Master can do!) 

Open the gate, he must enter in state, 

'Tis the Dreamer whose dreams come true! 

I'd not give way for an Emperor, 
I'd hold my road for a King — 

42 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 43 

To the Triple Crown I would not bow down — 

But this is a different thing. 

I'll not fight with the Powers of Air, 

Sentry, pass him through! 

Drawbridge let fall, it's the Lord of us all. 

The Dreamer whose dreams come true! 



A SONG TO MITHRAS 

(Hymn of the 30th Legion: drca 350 A. D.) 

Mithras, God of the Morning, our trumpets 

waken the Wall! 
"Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over 

all!" 
Now as the names are answered, and the guards 

are marched away, 
Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for the 

day! 

Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather 

swims in the heat. 
Our helmets scorch our foreheads, our sandals 

bum our feet. 
Now in the ungirt hour — now ere we blink 

and drowse, 
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us true to our vows ! 

Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western 

main — 
Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise 



again ! 



44 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 45 

Now when the watch is ended, now when the 

wine is drawn, 
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure till the 

dawn! 

Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the 

great bull dies. 
Look on thy children in darkness. Oh take our 

sacrifice ! 
Many roads thou hast fashioned — all of them 

lead to the Light, 
Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright I 



THE NEW KNIGHTHOOD 

Who gives him the Bath? 
"I/' said the wet. 
Rank Jungle-sweat, 
"I'll give him the Bath!'* 

Who'll sing the psalms? 
"We," said the Palms. 
"Ere the hot wind becalms. 
We'll sing the psalms." 

Who lays on the sword? 
"I," said the Sun, 
"Before he has done, 
I'll lay on the sword." 



Who fastens his belt? 
"I," said Short-Rations, 
"I know all the fashions 
Of tightening a belt!" 

Who gives him his spur? 
"I," said his Chief, 

46 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 47 

Exacting and brief, 
"I'll give him the spur." 

Who'll shake his hand? 
"I," said the Fever, 
"And I'm no deceiver, 
I'll shake his hand." 

Who brings him the wine? 
"I," said Quinine, 
"It's a habit of mine. 
I'll come with the wine." 

Who'll put him to proof? 
"I," said All Earth, 
"Whatever he's worth, 
I'll put to the proof." 

Who'll choose him for Knight? 
"I," said his Mother, 
"Before any other. 
My very own Knight." 

And after this fashion, adventure to seek. 
Was Sir Galahad made — as it might be last 
week! 



HARP SONG OF THE DANE WOMEN 

What is a woman that you forsake her. 
And the hearth-fire and the home-acre. 
To go with the old grey Widow-maker? 

She has no house to lay a guest in — 

But one chill bed for all to rest in. 

That the pale suns and the stray bergs nest in. 

She has no strong white arms to fold you, 
But the ten-times-fingering weed to hold you — 
Out on the rocks where the tide has rolled you. 

Yet, when the signs of summer thicken. 

And the ice breaks, and the birch-buds quicken, 

Yearly you turn from our side, and sicken — 

Sicken again for the shouts and the slaughters. 
You steal away to the lapping waters. 
And look at your ship in her winter quarters 

48 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 49 

You forget our mirth, and tsilk at the tables. 
The kine in the shed and the horse in the 

stables — ' 
To pitch her sides aiid go over her cables. 

Then you drive out where the storm-clouds 

swallow, 
And the sound of your oar-blades, falling IxoUow, 
Is all we have left through the months to follow. 

Ah, what is Woman that you forsake her. 
And the hearth-fire and the home-acre, 
To go with the old gray Widow-maker? 



CHAPTER HEADINGS 

Plain Tales from the Hills 

Look, you have cast out Love ! What Gods are 

these 
You bid me please? 

The Three in One, the One in Three? Not so! 
To my own Gods I go. 
It may be they shall give me greater ease 
Than your cold Christ and tangled Trinities. 

Lispeth. 

When the Earth was sick and the Skies were grey. 
And the woods were rotted with rain, 
The Dead Man rode through the autumn day 
To visit his love again. 

His love she neither saw nor heard. 
So heavy was her shame; 
And tho' the babe within her stirred 
She knew not that he came. 

The Other Man. 

50 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 51 

Cry "Murder" in the market-place and each 

Will turn upon his neighbour anxious eyes 

Asking; — "Art thou the man? " We hunted Cain 

Some centuries ago across the world. 

This bred the fear our own misdeeds maintain 

To-day. 

His Wedded Wife. 

Go, stalk the red deer o'er the heather 

Ride, follow the fox if you can ! 

But, for pleasure and profit together. 

Allow me the hunting of Man — 

The chase of the Human, the search for the Soul 

To its ruin — the hunting of Man. 

Pig. 

''Stopped in the straight when the race was his 

own! 
Look at him cutting it — cur to the bone!" 
Ask ere the youngster be rated and chidden 
What did he carry and how was he ridden? 
May be they used him too much at the start; 
Maybe Fate's weight-cloths are breaking his 

heart." 

In the Pride of his Youth. 



5« SONGS FROM BOOKS 

"And some are sulky, while some will plunge. 
(So hoi Steady! Stand still, you! ) 
Some you must gentle, and some you must lunge. 
{There! There! Who wants to hill you?) 
Some — there are losses in every trade — 
Will break their hearts ere bitted and made. 
Will fight like fiends as the rope cuts hard. 
And die dumb-mad in the breaking-yard." 

Thrown Away, 

The World hath set its heavy yoke 
Upon the old white-bearded folk 
Who strive to please the King. 
God's mercy is upon the young, 
God's wisdom in the baby tongue 
That fears not anytl>ing. 

Tod^s Amendment. 

Not though you die to-night, Sweet, and wail, 

A spectre at my door. 

Shall mortal Fear make Love immortal fail — • 

I shall but love you more. 

Who, from Death's hoi^e returning, give me still 

One moment's comfort in my matchless ill. 

By Word of Mouth. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 5S 

They burnt a corpse upon the sand — 
The hght shone out afar; 
It guided home the plunging boats 
That beat from Zanzibar, 
Spirit of Fire, where e'er Thy altars rise. 
Thou art the Light of Guidance to our eyes! 

In Error, 



Ride with an idle whip, ride with an unused heel. 
But, once in a way, there will come a day 
When the colt must be taught to feel 
The lash that falls, and the curb that galls, and 
the sting of the rowelled steel. 
The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin. 

It was not in the open fight 

We threw away the sword. 

But in the lonely watching 

In the darkness by the ford. 

The waters lapped, the night-wind blew. 

Full-armed the Fear was bom and grew, 

From panic in the night. 

The Rout of the White Hussars, 



54 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

In the daytime, when she moved about me, 
In the night, when she was sleeping at my side, — 
I was wearied, I was wearied of her presence, 
Day by day and night by night I grew to hate 

her — 
Would God that she or I had died ! 

The Bronckhorst Divorce Case. 



A stone's throw out on either hand 
From that well-ordered road we tread, 
And all the world is wild and strange; 
Churel and ghoul and Djinn and sprite 
Shall bear us company to-night. 
For we have reached the Oldest Land 
Wherein the powers of Darkness range. 

In the House of Suddhoo. 

To-night, God knows what thing shall tide, 
The Earth is racked and faint — 
Expectant, sleepless, open-eyed; 
And we, who from the Earth were made^ 
Thrill with our Mother's pain. 

False Dawn. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 55 

Pit where the buffalo cooled his hide. 

By the hot sun emptied, and blistered and dried; 

Log in the reh-grass, hidden and lone; 

Bund where the earth-rat's mounds are strown; 

Cave in the bank where the sly stream steals; 

Aloe that stabs at the belly and heels. 

Jump if you dare on a steed untried — 

Safer it is to go wide — go wide! 

Hark, from in front where the best men ride; — 

'' Pull to the of , boys! Wide! Go wide!'' 

Cupid's Arrows. 

He drank strong waters and his speech was 

coarse 
He purchased raiment and forebore to pay. 
He stuck a trusting junior with a horse 
And won gymkhanas in a doubtful way. 
Then, 'twixt a vice and folly, turned aside 
To do good deeds and straight to cloak them, 

lied. 

A Bank Fraud, 



THE THOUSANDTH MAN 

One man in a thousand, Solomon says. 

Will stick more close than a brother. 

And it's worth while seeking him half your days 

If you find him before the other. 

Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend 

On what the world sees in you. 

But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend 

With the whole round world agin you. 

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show 

Will settle the finding for 'ee. 

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go 

By your looks or your acts or your glory. 

But if he finds you and you find him. 

The rest of the world don't matter; 

For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim 

With you in any water. 

You can use his purse with no more talk 
Than he uses yours for his spendings. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 57 

And laugh and meet in your daily walk 
As though there had been no lendings. 
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call 
For silver and gold in their dealings; 
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all, 
Because you can show him your feelings. 

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your 

right. 
In season or out of season. 
Stand up and back it in all men's sight — 
With that for your only reason! 
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide 
The shame or mocking or laughter. 
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side 
To the gallows-foot — and after! 



THE WINNERS 

TVTiat is the moral? Who rides may read. 
When the night is thick and the tracks are bhnd 
A friend at a pinch is a friend indeed, 
But a fool to wait for the laggard behind. 
Down to Gehenna or up to the Throne, 
He travels the fastest who travels alone. 

White hands cling to the tightened rein. 
Slipping the spur from the booted heel, 
Tenderest voices cry "Turn again," 
Red lips tarnish the scabbarded steel. 
High hopes faint on a warm hearth stone -« 
He travels the fastest who travels alone. 

One may fall but he falls by himself — 
Falls by himself with himself to blame. 
One may attain and to him is pelf. 
Loot of the city in Gold or Fame. 
Plunder of earth shall be all his own 
Who travels the fastest and travels alone. 

53 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 59 

Wherefore the more ye be holpen and stayed 
Stayed by a friend in the hour of toil. 
Sing the heretical song I have made ~ 
His be the labour and yours be the spoil 
Win by his aid and the aid disown — 
He travels the fastest who travels alone! 



A ST. HELENA LULLABY 

"How far is St. Helena from a little child at 

play?" 
What makes you want to wander there with all 

the world between? 
Oh, Mother, call your son again or else he'll 

run away. 
(No one thinks of winter when the grass is green! 

"How far is St. Helena from a fight in Paris 

street.^" 
I haven't time to answer now — the men are 

falling fast. 
The guns begin to thunder, and the drums begin 

to beat. 
(If you take the first step you will take the last!) 

"How far is St. Helena from the field of Auster- 

litz?" 
You couldn't hear me if I told — so loud the 

cannons roar. 

60 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 61 

But not so far for people who are living by their 

wits. 
{''Gay go up'' means ''Gay go down'' the wide 
world o'er!) 

" How far is St. Helena from an Emperor of 

France? " 
I cannot see — I cannot tell — the crowns they 

dazzle so. 
The Kings sit down to dinner, and the Queens 

stand up to dance. 
(After open weather you may look for snow!) 

" How far is St. Helena from the Capes of Trafal- 
gar.?" 

A longish way — a longish way — with ten year 
more to run. 

It's South across the water underneath a setting 
star. 

(What you cannot finish you must leave undone!) 

" How far is St. Helena from the Beresina ice?" 
An ill way — a chill way — the ice begins to 
crack. 



62 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

But not so far for gentlemen who never took 

advice. 
(When you canH go forward you must e^en come 

back!) 

"How far is St. Helena from the field of 

Waterloo? " 
A near way — a clear way — the ship will take 

you soon. 
A pleasant place for gentlemen with little left to 

do. 
{Morning never tries you till the afternoon!) 

"How far from St. Helena to the Gate of 

Heaven's Grace .^ " 
That no one knows — that no one knows — and 

no one ever will. 
But fold your hands across your heart and cover 

up your face. 
And after all your trapesings, child, lie still 



THE CAPTIVE 

Not with an outcry to Allah nor any com- 
plaining 

He answered his name at the muster and stood 
to the chaining. 

When the twin anklets were nipped on the leg- 
bars that held them. 

He brotherly greeted the armourers stooping to 
weld them. 

Ere the sad dust of the marshalled feet of the 
chain-gang swallowed him 

Observing him nobly at ease, I alighted and 
followed him. 

Thus we had speech by the way, but not touch- 
ing his sorrow — 

Rather his red Yesterday and his regal To- 
morrow, 

Wherein he statelily moved to the clii^k of his 
chains unregarded. 

Nowise abashed but contented to drink of the 
potion awarded. 



64 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Saluting aloofly bis Fate, he made swift with his 

story. 
And the words of his mouth were as slaves 

spreading carpets of glory 
Embroidered with names of the Djinns — a 

miraculous weaving — 
But the cool and perspicuous eye overbore un- 
believing. 
So I submitted myself to the limits of rapture — 
Bound by this man we had bound, amid captives 

his capture — 
Till he returned me to earth and the visions 

departed. 
But on him be the Peace and the Blessing; for 

he was great-hearted* 



THE PUZZLER 

The Celt in all his variants from Builth to Bally- 
hoo, 

His mental processes are plain — one knows 
what he will do. 

And can logically predicate his finish by his 
start; 

But the English — ah, the English — they are 
quite a race apart. 

Their psychology is bovine, their outlook crude 

and raw. 
They abandon vital matters to be tickled with 

a straw, 
But the straw that they were tickled with — the 

chaff that they were fed with — 
They convert into a weaver's beam to break 

their foeman's head with. 

For undemocratic reasons and for motives not 
of State, 

They arrive at their conclusions — largely in- 
articulate. 

65 



66 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Being void of self-expression they confide their 

views to none; 
But sometimes in a smoking-room, one learns 

why things were done. 

Yes, sometimes in a smoking-room, through 

clouds of "Ers" and "Ums" 
Obliquely and by inference illumination comes, 
On some step that they have taken, or some 

action they approve — 
Embellished with the argot of the Upper Fourth 

Remove. 

In telegraphic sentences, haK nodded to their 

friends. 
They hint a matter's inwardness — and there 

the matter ends. 
And while the Celt is talking from Valencia to 

Kirkwall, 
The English — ah, the Enghsh ! — don't say 

anything at all! 



HADRAMAUTI 

Who knows the heart of the Christian? How 

does he reason? 
What are his measures and balances? Which 

is his season 
For laughter, forbearance or bloodshed, and 

what devils move him 
When he arises to smite us? / do not love him. 

He invites the derision of strangers — he enters 

all places. 
Booted, bareheaded he enters. With shouts and 

embraces 
He asks of us news of the household whom we 

reckon nameless. 
Certainly Allah created him forty-fold shameless. 

So it is not in the Desert. One came to me 

weeping — 
The Avenger of Blood on his track — I took him 

in keeping, 

67 



68 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Demanding not whom he had slain, I refreshed 

him, I fed him 
As he were even a brother. But EbHs had bred 

him. 

He was the son of an ape, ill at ease in his cloth- 
ing, 

He talked with his head, hands and feet. I 
endured him with loathing 

Whatever ^is spirit conceived his countenance 
showed it 

As a frog shows in a mud-puddle. Yet I abode it ! 

I fingered my beard and was dumb, in silence 

confronting him. 
His soul was too shallow for silence, e'en with 

Death hunting him. 
I said: '''Tis his weariness speaks" but, when he 

had rested, 
He chirped in my face like some sparrow, and, 

presently, jested! 

Wherefore slew I that stranger.^ He brought me 

dishonour. 
I saddled my mare, Bijli, I set him upon her. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 69 

I gave him rice and goat's flesh. He bared me 

to laughter. 
When he was gone from my tent, swift I followed 

after, 
Taking my sword in my hand. The hot wine 

had filled him. 
Under the stars he mocked me — therefore I 

killed him! 



GALLIO'S SONG 

(And Gallio cared for none of these things. — Acts xviii, 17) 

All day long to the judgment-seat 
The crazed Provincials drew — 
All day long at their ruler's feet 
Howled for the blood of the Jew. 
Insurrection with one accord 
Banded itself and woke, 
And Paul was about to open his mouth 
When Achaia's Deputy spoke — 

"Whether the God descend from above 
Or the Man ascend upon high. 
Whether this maker of tents be Jove 
Or a younger deity — 
I will be no judge between your gods 
And your godless bickerings. 
Lictor, drive them hence with rods 
I care for none of these things! 

Were it a question of lawful due 
Or Caesar's rule denied, 

70 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 71 

Reason would I should bear with you 

And order it well to be tried; 

But this is a question of words and names. 

I know the strife it brings. 

I will not pass upon any your claims. 

I care for none of these things. 

One thing only I see most clear. 

As I pray you also see. 

Claudius Csesar hath set me here 

Rome's Deputy to be. 

It is Her peace that ye go to break — 

Not mine, nor any king's. 

But, touching your clamour of "Conscience 

saj^e, 
I care for none of these things. 

Whether ye rise for the sake of a creed. 
Or riot in hope of spoil. 
Equally will I punish the deed. 
Equally check the broil; 
Nowise permitting injustice at all 
From whatever doctrine it springs — 
But — whether ye follow Priapus or Paul, 
I care for none of these things." 



THE BEES AND THE FLIES 

A Farmer of the Augustan Age 
Perused in Virgil's golden page, 
The story of the secret won 
From Proteus by Gyrene's son — 
How the dank sea-god showed the swain 
Means to restore his hives again. 
More briefly, how a slaughtered bull 
Breeds honey by the bellyful. 

The egregious rustic put to death 

A bull by stopping of its breath, 

Disposed the carcass in a shed 

With fragrant herbs and branches spread, 

And, having thus performed the charm, 

Sat down to wait the promised swarm. 

Nor waited long. The God of Day 
Impartial, quickening with his ray 
Evil and good alike, beheld 
The carcass — and the carcass swelled. 

72 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 73 

Big with new birth the belly heaves 
Beneath its screen of scented leaves, 
Past any doubt, the bull conceives! 

The farmer bids men bring more hives 
To house the profit that arrives; 
Prepares on pan, and key and kettle. 
Sweet music that shall make 'em settle; 
But when to crown the work he goes, 
Gods! What a stink salutes his nose! 
Where are the honest toilers? Where 
The gravid mistress of their care? 
A busy scene, indeed, he sees. 
But not a sign or sound of bees. 
Worms of the riper grave unhid 
By any kindly coffin lid. 
Obscene and shameless to the light 
Seethe in insatiate appetite, 
Through putrid offal, while above 
The hissing blow-fly seeks his love. 
Whose offspring, supping where they supt, 
Consume corruption twice corrupt. 



"OUR FATHERS ALSO" 

Thrones, Powers, Dominions, Peoples, Kings, 
Are changing 'neath our hand; 
Our fathers also see these things 
But they do not understand. 

By — they are by with mirth and tears. 
Wit or the works of Desire — 
Cushioned about on the kindly years 
Between the wall and the fire. 

The grapes are pressed, the corn is shocked ~ 
Standeth no more to glean; 
For the Gates of Love and Learning locked 
When they went out between. 

All lore our Lady Venus bares. 
Signalled it was or told 
By the dear lips long given to theirs 
And longer to the mould. 

74 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 75 

All Profit, all Device, all Truth 
Written it was or said 

By the mighty men of their mighty youth, 
Which is mighty being dead. 

The film that floats before their eyes 
The Temple's Veil they call; 
And the dust that on the Shewbread lies 
Is holy over all. 

Warn them of seas that slip our yoke 
Of slow -conspiring stars — 
The ancient Front of Things unbroke 
But heavy with new wars? 

By — they are by with mirth and tears. 
Wit or the waste of Desire — 
Cushioned about on the kindly years 
Between the wall and the fire 



A BRITISH-ROMAN SONG 

(A. D. 406) 

My father's father saw it not. 

And I, behke, shall never come. 
To look on that so-holy spot — 

The very Rome — • 

Crowned by all Time, all Art, all Might 

The equal work of Gods and Man, 
City beneath whose oldest height — 

The Race began! 

Soon to send forth again a brood, 

Unshakeable, we pray, that clings. 
To Rome's thrice-hammered hardihood — 

In arduous things. - 

Strong heart with triple armour bound. 
Beat strongly, for thy life-blood runs. 
Age after Age, the Empire round — 

In us thy Sons 

76 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 77 

Who, distant from the Seven Hills, 
Loving and serving much, require 
Thee — thee to guard 'gainst home-born ills. 

The Imperial Fire! 



A PICT SONG 

Rome never looks where she treads. 

Always her heavy hooves fall, 
On our stomachs, our hearts or our heads; 

And Rome never heeds when we bawl. 
Her sentries pass on — that is all. 

And we gather behind them in hordes. 
And plot to reconquer the Wall, 

With only our tongues for our swords. 

We are the Little Folk — we! 

Too little to love or to hate. 
Leave us alone and you'll see 

How we can drag down the State! 
We are the worm in the wood! 

We are the rot at the root! 
We are the germ in the blood! 

We are the thorn in the foot! 

Mistletoe killing an oak — 

Rats gnawing cables in two — 

Moths making holes in a cloak — 
How they must love what they do! 

78 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 79 

Yes — and we Little Folk too. 

We are busy as they — 
Working our works out of view — 

W^ateh, and you'll see it some day! 

No indeed! We are not strong, 

But we know Peoples that are. 
Yes, and we'll guide them along. 

To smash and destroy you in War! 
We shall be slaves just the same? 

Yes, we have always been slaves. 
But you — you will die of the shame. 

And then we shall dance on your graves! 

We are the Little Folk, we, etc. 



THE STRANGER 

The Stranger within my gate. 

He may be true or kind. 
But he does not talk my talk — 

I cannot feel his mind. 
I see the face and the eyes and the mouth. 

But not the soul behind. 

The men of my own stock 

They may do ill or well. 
But they tell the lies I am wonted to. 

They are used to the lies I tell. 
We do not need interpreters 

When we go to buy and sell. 

The Stranger within my gates. 

He may be evil or good. 
But I cannot tell what powers control — 

What reasons sway his mood; 
Nor when the Gods of his far-off land 

May repossess his blood. 

80 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 81 

The men of my own stock, 

Bitter bad they may be, 
But, at least, they hear the things I hear. 

And see the things I see; 
And whatever I think cf them and their Ukes 

They think of the Ukes of me. 

This was my father's beUef 

And this is also mine: 
Let the corn be all one sheaf — 

And the grapes be all one vine. 
Ere our children's teeth are set on edge 

By bitter bread and wine. 



'RIMINI" 

(Marching Song of a Roman Legion of the Later Empire) 

When I left Rome for Lalage's sake 

By the Legions' road to Rimini, 

She vowed her heart was mine to take 

With me and my shield to Rimini 

(Till the Eagles flew from Rimini) 

And I've tramped Britain, and I've tramped Gaul, 

And the Pontic shore where the snow flakes fall 

As white as the neck of Lalage — 

(As cold as the heart of Lalage!) 

And I've lost Britain, and I've lost Gaul 

And I've lost Rome, and worst of all, 

I've lost Lalage! 

When you go by the Via Aurelia, 

As thousands have travelled before. 

Remember the Luck of the Soldier 

Who never saw Rome any more! 

Oh dear was the sweetheart that kissed him 

And dear was the mother that bore, 

82 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 83 

But his shield was picked up in the heather. 
And he never saw Rome any more! 

And he left Rome, etc. 

When you go by the Via Aurelia 
That runs from the City to Gaul, 
Remember the Luck of the Soldier 
Who rose to be master of all! 
He carried the sword and the buckler 
He mounted his guard on the Wall, 
Till the Legions elected him Caesar, 
And he rose to be master of all! 

And he left Rome, etc. 

It's twenty-five marches to Narbo, 

It's forty-five more up the Rhone, 

And the end may be death in the heather 

Or life on an Emperor's throne; 

But whether the Eagles obey us, 

Or we go to the Ravens — alone, 

I'd sooner be Lalage's lover 

Than sit on an Emperor's throne! 

We've all left Rome for Lalage's sake, etc. 



TCX)R HONEST MEN" 

(A. D. 1800) 

Your jar of Virginny 

Will cost you a guinea 

Which you reckon too much by five shillings or 

ten; 
But light your churchwarden 
And judge it according, 
When I've told you the troubles of poor honest 

men. 

From the Capes of the Delaware, 
As you are well aware. 

We sail with tobacco for England — but then. 
Our own British cruisers, 
They watch us come through, sirs. 
And they press half a score of us poor honest 
men! 

Or if by quick sailing 

(Thick weather prevaiKng) 

We leave them behind (as we do now and then) 

84 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 85 

We are sure of a gun from 

Each frigate we run from, 

Which is often destruction to poor honest men! 

Broadsides the Atlantic 

We tumble short-handed, 

With shot-holes to plug and new canvas to bend. 

And off the Azores, 

Dutch, Dons and Monsieurs 

Are waiting to terrify poor honest men. 

Napoleon's embargo 
Is laid on all cargo 

Which comfort or aid to King George may in- 
tend, 
And since roll, twist and leaf. 
Of all comforts is chief. 
They try for to steal it from poor honest men! 

With no heart for fight. 

We take refuge in flight 

But fire as we run, our retreat to defend, 

Until our stern-chasers 

Cut up her fore-braces. 

And she flies up the wind from us poorTionest men ! 



86 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Twix' the Forties and Fifties, 
South-eastward the drift is. 
And so, when we think we are making Land's End, 
Alas, it is Ushant 
With half the King's Navy, 
Blockading French ports against poor honest 
men! 

But they may not quit station 

(Which is our salvation) 

So swiftly we stand to the Nor'ard again; 

And finding the tail of 

A homeward bound convoy. 

We slip past the Scillies like poor honest men. 

Twix' the Lizard and Dover, 

We hand our stuflE over. 

Though I may not inform how we do it, nor 

when. 
But a light on each quarter 
Low down on the water 
Is well understanded by poor honest men! 

Even then we have dangers, 
From meddlesome strangers. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 87 

Who spy on our business and are not content 
To take a smooth answer, 
Except with a handspike . . . 
And they say they are murdered by poor honest 
men! 

To be drowned or be shot 

Is our natural lot. 

Why should we, moreover, be hanged in the 

end — 
After all our great pains 
For to dangle in chains 
As though we were smugglers, not poor honest 

men? 



"WHEN THE GREAT AEK" 

When the Great Ark, in Vigo Bay, 

Rode stately through the half -manned fleet. 

From every ship about her way 
She heard the mariners entreat — 

"Before we take the seas again 

Let down your boats and send us men! 

"We have no lack of victual here 

With work — God knows ! — enough for all. 
To hand and reef and watch and steer. 

Because our present strength is small. 
While your three decks are crowded so 
Your crews can scarcely stand or go. 

"In war, your numbers do but raise 

Confusion and divided will; 
In storm, the mindless deep obeys 

Not multitudes but single skill; 
In calm, your numbers, closely pressed, 
Must breed a mutiny or pest. 

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SONGS FROM BOOKS 89 

"We, even on unchallenged seas. 

Dare not adventure where we would. 

But forfeit brave advantages 

For lack of men to make 'em good; 

Whereby, to England's double cost. 

Honour and profit both are lost!" 



PROPHETS AT HOME 

Prophets have honour all over the Earth, 
Except in the village where they were born; 

Where such as knew them boys from birth, 
Nature-ally hold 'em in scorn. 

When Prophets are naughty and young and vain, 
They make a won'erful grievance of it. 

(You can see by their writings how they com- 
plain), 
But O, 'tis won'erful good for the Prophet! 

There's nothing Nineveh Town can give 
(Nor being swallowed by whales between). 

Makes up for the place where a man's folk live. 
Which don't care nothing what he has been. 

He might ha' been that, or he might ha' been 
this. 

But they love and they hate him for what he is. 



JUBAL AND TUBAL CAIN 

Jubal sang of the Wrath of God 

And the curse of thistle and thorn — • 
But Tubal got him a pointed rod, 
And scrabbled the earth for corn. 
Old — old as that early mould. 

Young as the sprouting grain — 
Yearly green is the strife between 
Jubal and Tubal Cain! 

Jubal sang of the new-found sea. 

And the love that its waves divide — 
But Tubal hollowed a fallen tree 

And passed to the further side. 
Black — black as the hurricane-wrack, 

Salt as the under-main — 
Bitter and cold is the hate they hold — 

Jubal and Tubal Cain! 

Jubal sang of the golden years 

When wars and wounds shall cease — 
But Tubal fashioned the hand-fiung spears 
And showed his neighbours peace. 

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92 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

New — new as the Nine point Two, 
Older than Lamech's slain — 

Roaring and loud is the feud avowed 
Twix' Jubal and Tubal Cain! 

Jubal sang of the cliffs that bar 

And the peaks that none may crown — 
But Tubal clambered by jut and scar 
And there he builded a town. 
High — high as the snowsheds lie, 

Low as the culverts drain — 
Wherever they be they can never agree - 
Jubal and Tubal Cain! 



THE VOORTREKKER 

The gull shall whistle in his wake, the blind wave 

break in fire. 
He shall fulfil God's utmost will, unknowing his 

desire. 
And he shall see old planets change and alien 

stars arise, 
And give the gale his seaworn sail in shadow of 

new skies. 
Strong lust of gear shall drive him forth and 

hunger arm his hand. 
To win his food from the desert rude, his pit- 
tance from the sand. 
His neighbours' smoke shall vex his eyes, their 

voices break his rest. 
He shall go forth till south is north sullen and 

dispossessed. 
He shall desire loneliness and his desire shall 

bring. 
Hard on his heels, a thousand wheels, a People 

and a King. 



94 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

He shall come back on his own track, and by his 
scarce-cooled camp 

There shall he meet the roaring street, the der- 
rick and the stamp: 

There he shall blaze a nation's ways with 
hatchet and with brand. 

Till on his last-won wilderness an Empire's out- 
posts stand. 



A SCHOOL SONG 

*^Let us now praise famous men'' ^^ 

Men of little showing — 
For their work continueth. 
And their work continueth. 
Broad and deep continueth. 

Greater than their knowing! 

Western wind and open surge 
Took us from our mothers. 

Flung us on a naked shore 

(Twelve bleak houses by the shore! 

Seven summers by the shore!) 
'Mid two hundred brothers. 

There we met with^ famous men 

Set in office o'er us; 
And they beat on us with rods — 
Faithfully with many rods — 
Daily beat us on with rods. 

For the love they bore us! 

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m SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Out of Egypt unto Troy — 

Over Himalaya — 
Far and sure our bands have gone — 
Hy-Brasil or Babylon, 
Islands of the Southern Run, 

And Cities of Cathaia! 

And we all praise famous men — 

Ancients of the College; 
For they taught us common sense — 
Tried to teach us common sense — 
Truth and God's Own Common Sense, 

Which is more than knowledge! 

Each degree of Latitude 

Strung about Creation 
Seeth one or more of us 
(Of one muster each of us), 
Diligent in that he does. 

Keen in his vocation. 

This we learned from famous men. 

Knowing not its uses. 
When they showed, in daily work. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 97 

Man must finish off his work — 
Right or wrong, his daily work — 
And without excuses. 

Servants of the Staff and chain. 

Mine and fuse and grapnel — 
Some before the face of Kings, 
Stand before the face of Kings; 
Bearing gifts to divers Kings — 

Gifts of case and shrapnel. 

This we learned from famous men 

Teaching in our borders. 
Who declared it was best, 
Safest, easiest, and best — 
Expeditious, wise, and best — 

To obey your orders. 

Some beneath the further stars 

Bear the greater burden: 
Set to serve the lands they rule, 
(Save he serve no man may rule), 
Serve and love the lands they rule; 

Seeking praise nor guerdon. 



98 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

This we learned from famous men. 

Knowing not we learned it. 
Only, as the years went by — 
Lonely, as the years went by — 
Far from help as years went by. 
Plainer we discerned it. 

Wherefore praise we famous men 
From whose bays we borrow — 
They that put aside To-day — 
All the joys of their To-day — 
And with toil of their To-day 
Bought for us To-morrow! 

Bless and praise we famous men — ^ 

Men of little showing — 
For their work continueth, 
And their work continueth, 
Broad and deep continueth. 

Great beyond their knowing! 



X 



"A SERVANT WHEN HE REIGNETH" 

(For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot 
bear. For a servant when he reigneth and a fool when he is filled with 
meat; for an odious woman when she is married, and an handmaid thai 
is heir to her mistress. — Prov. xxx. 21-22-23.) 

Three things make earth unquiet 
And four she cannot brook 
The godly Agur counted them 
And put them in a book — 
Those Four Tremendous Curses 
VV^ith which mankind is cursed 
But a Servant when he Reigneth 
Old Agur counted first. 

An Handmaid that is Mistress 

We need not call upon, 

A Fool when he is full of Meat > 

Will fall asleep anon. 

An Odious Woman Married 

May bear a babe and mend. 

But a Servant when He Reigneth 

Is Confusion to the end. 

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100 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

His feet are swift to tumult, 
His hands are slow to toil. 
His ears are deaf to reason. 
His lips are loud in broil. 
He knows no use for power 
Except to show his might, 
He gives no heed to judgment 
Unless it prove him right. 

Because he served a master 

Before his Kingship came, 

And hid in all disaster 

Behind his master's name. 

So, when his Folly opens 

The unnecessary hells, 

A Servant when He Reigneth 

Throws the blame on some one else, 

His vows are lightly spoken. 
His faith is hard to bind. 
His trust is easy broken. 
He fears his fellow-kind. 
The nearest mob will move him 
To break the pledge he gave — 
Oh a Servant when He E-eigneth 
Is more than ever slave! 



*OUE FATHERS OF OLD" 

Excellent herbs had our fathers of old — 

Excellent herbs to ease their pain — 
Alexanders and Marigold, 

Eyebright, Orris, and Elecampane. 
Basil, Rocket, Valerian, Rue, 

(Almost singing themselves they run) 
Vervain, Dittany, Call-me-to-you — 

Cowslip, Melilot, Rose of the Sun. 
Anything green that grew out of the mould 
Was an excellent herb to our fathers of old. 

Wonderful tales had our fathers of old 

Wonderful tales of the herbs and the stars — 
The Sun was Lord of the Marigold, 

Basil and Rocket belonged to Mars. 
Pat as a sum in division it goes — 

(Every plant had a star bespoke) — 
Who but Venus should govern the Rose? 

Who but Jupiter own the Oak? 

Simply and gravely the facts are told 

In the wonderful books of our fathers of old. 

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102 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Wonderful little, when all is said. 

Wonderful little our fathers knew. 
Half their remedies cured you dead — 

Most of their teaching was quite untrue 
"Look at the stars when a patient is ill, 

(Dirt has nothing to do with disease,) 
Bleed and blister as much as you will, 

Blister and bleed him as oft as you please." 
Whence enormous and manifold 
Errors were made by our fathers of old. 

Yet when the sickness was sore in the land. 
And neither planets nor herbs assuaged. 

They took their lives in their lancet-hand 
And, oh, what a wonderful war they waged! 

Yes, when the crosses were chalked on the door- 
Yes, when the terrible dead-cart rolled. 

Excellent courage our fathers bore — 
Excellent heart had our fathers of old, 
None too learned, but nobly bold 
Into the fight went our fathers of old. 

If it be certain, as Galen says, 

And sage Hippocrates holds as much — 
"That those afflicted by doubts and dismays 

Are mightily helped by a dead man's touch,' 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 103 

Then, be good to us, stars above! 

Then, be good to us, herbs below! 
We are afflicted by what we can prove. 
We are distracted by what we know. 
So — ah, so ! 
Down from your heaven or up from your 

mould. 
Send us the hearts of our fathers of old! 



THE HERITAGE 

Our Fathers in a wondrous age, 

Ere yet the Earth was small, 
Ensured to us an heritage. 

And doubted not at all 
That we, the children of their heart, 

Which then did beat so high, 
In later time should play like part 

For our posterity. 

A thousand years they steadfast built. 

To 'vantage us and ours. 
The Walls that were a world's despair. 

The sea-constraining Towers: 
Yet in their midmost pride they knew. 

And unto Kings made known. 
Not all from these their strength they drew. 

Their faith from brass or stone. 

Youth's passion, manhood's fierce intent. 
With age's judgment wise, 

104 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 105 

They spent, and counted not they spent. 

At daily sacrifice. 
Not lambs alone nor purchased doves 

Or tithe of trader's gold — 
Their lives most dear, their dearer loves. 

They offered up of old. 

Refraining e'en from lawful things. 

They bowed the neck to bear 
The unadorned yoke that brings 

Stark toil and sternest care. 
Wherefore through them is Freedom sure; 

Wherefore through them we stand 
From all but sloth and pride secure. 

In a delightsome land. 

Then, fretful, murmur not they gave 

So great a charge to keep, 
Nor dream that awestruck Time shall save 

Their labour while we sleep. 
Dear-bought and clear, a thousand year. 

Our fathers' title runs. 
Make we likewise their sacrifice. 

Defrauding not our sons. 



SONG OF THE FIFTH RIVER 

When first by Eden Tree, 
The Four Great Rivers ran, 
To each was appointed a Man 
Her Prince and Ruler to be 

But after this was ordained, 
(The ancient legends tell). 
There came dark Israel, 
For whom no River remained. 

Then He Whom the Rivers obey 

Said to him: "Fling on the ground 

A handful of yellow clay. 

And a Fifth Great River shall run. 

Mightier than these Four, 

In secret the Earth around; 

And Her secret evermore. 

Shall be shown to thee and thy Race." 

So it was said and done. 

And, deep in the veins of Earth, 

And, fed by a thousand springs 

106 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 107 

That comfort the market-place. 
Or sap the power of Kmgs, 
The Fifth Great River had birth. 
Even as it was foretold — 
The Secret River of Gold! 

And Israel laid down 

His sceptre and his crown, 

To brood on that River bank, 

Where the waters flashed and sank, 

And burrowed in earth and fell. 

And bided a season below, 

For reason that none might know. 

Save only Israel. 

He is Lord of the Last — 

The Fifth, most wonderful, Flood. 

He hears Her thunder past 

And Her Song is in his blood. 

He can foresay: "She will fall," 

For he knows which fountain dries 

Behind which desert-belt 

A thousand leagues to the South. 

He can foresay: *'She will rise." 
He knovfs what far snows melt; 



108 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Along what mountain-wall 

A thousand leagues to the North. 

He snuffs the coming drouth 

As he snuffs the coming rain. 

He knows what each will bring forth. 

And turns it to his gain. 

A Ruler without a Throne, 

A Prince without a Sword, 

Israel follows his quest. 

In every land a guest, 

Of many lands a lord. 

In no land King is he. 

But the Fifth Great River keeps 

The secret of Her deeps 

For Israel alone. 

As it was ordered to be. 



CHAPTER HEADINGS 

THE NAULAHKA 

We meet in an evil land 

That is near to the gates of hell. 

I wait for thy command 

To serve, to speed or withstand. 

And thou say est, I do not well? 

Oh Love, the flowers so red 

Are only tongues of flame 

The earth is full of the dead. 

The new-killed, restless dead. 

There is danger beneath and o'erhead 

And I guard thy gates in fear 

Of peril and jeopardy 
Of words thou canst not hear 
Of signs thou canst not see 
And thou say est 'tis ill that I come? 



This I saw when the rites were done 

And the lamps were dead and the Gods alone. 



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110 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

And the grey snake coiled on the altar stone. 

Ere I fled from a Fear that I could not see 

And the Gods of the East made mouths at me. 



Now it is not good for the Christian's health to 

hustle the Aryan brown. 
For the Christian riles and the Aryan smiles and 

he weareth the Aryan down; 
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white 

with the name of the late deceased. 
And the epitaph drear; — "A fool lies here who 

tried to hustle the Eastc" 



Beat off in our last fight were we? 

The greater need to seek the sea. 

For Fortune changeth as the moon 

To caravel and picaroon. 

Then Eastward Ho! Or Westward Ho! 

Whichever wind may meetest blow 

Our quarry sails on either sea 

Fat prey for such bold lads as we 

And every sun-dried buccaneer 

Must hand and reef and watch and steer. 

And bear great wrath of sea and sky 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 111 

Before the plate-ships wallow by. 
Now as our tall bows take the foam 
Let no man turn his heart to home 
Save to desire treasure more 
And larger warehouse for his store 
When treasure trove from Santos Bay 
Shall make our sea-washed village gay« 



Because I sought it far from men 
In deserts and alone 
I found it burning overhead 
The jewel of a Throne. 

Because I sought — I sought it so 
And spent my days to find 
It blazed one moment ere it left 
The blacker night behind. 



When a lover hies abroad 

Looking for his love, 

Azrael smiling sheathes his swordj 

Heaven smiles above. 

Earth and sea 



in SONGS FROM BOOKS 

His servants be 

And to lesser compass round 

That his love be sooner found. 



There was a strife 'twixt man and maid 
Oh that was at the birth of time! 
But what befell 'twixt man and maid 
Oh that's beyond the grip of rhyme. 
'Twas, "Sweet I must not bide with you" 
And "Love I cannot bide alone;" 
For both were young and both were true 
And both were hard as the nether stone. 



There is pleasure in the wet wet clay. 
When the artist's hand is potting it. 
There is pleasure in the wet wet lay. 
When the poet's pad is blotting it. 
There is pleasure in the shine of your picture on 

the line 
At the Royal Acade-my, 
But the pleasure felt in these, is as chalk to 

Cheddar cheese 
When it comes to a well-made Lie. 
To a quite unwreckable Lie 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 113 

To a most impeccable Lie! 

To a water-tight, fireproof, angle-iron, simk- 

hinge, time-lock, steel-faced Lie! 
Not a private hansom Lie 
But a pair-and-brougham Lie 
Not a little place at Tooting, but a country-house 

with shooting 
And a ring-fence, deer-park Lie. 



THE LIGHT THAT FAD^ED 

So we settled it all when the storm was done 

As comfy as comfy could be 

And I was to wait in the bam, my dears. 

Because I was only three. 

And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot 

Because he was five and a man; 

And that's how it all began, my dears. 

And that's how it all began. 



114 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

/ 
''If I have taken the cominon clay 

And wrought it cunningly. 

In the shape of a God that was digged a 

clod 

The greater honour to me" 

"If thou hast taken the common clay 

And thy hands be not free. 

From the taint of the soil thou hast made 

thy spoil 

The greater shame to thee " 



The woK-cub at even lay hid in the com 
Where the smoke of the cooking hung grey 
He knew where the doe made a couch for her 

fawn. 
And he looked to his strength for his prey. 
But the moon swept the smoke-wreaths away 
And he turned from his meal in the villager'si 

close 
And he bayed to the moon as she rose. 



The lark will make her hymn to God 
The partridge call her brood 
While J forget the heath I trod 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 115 

The fields wherein I stood. 

'Tis dule to know not night from morn 

But greater dule to know, 

I can but hear the hunter's horn 

That once I used to blow. 

There were three friends that buried the fourth 
The mould in his mouth and the dust in his eyes. 
And they went south and east and north — 
The strong man fights but the sick man dies. 
There were three friends that spoke of the 

dead — 
The strong man fights but the sick man dies — 
"And would he were here with us now" they 

said 
The sun in our face and the wind in our eyes. 



Yet at the last, ere our spearmen had found him 
Yet at the last ere a sword-thrust could save 
Yet at the last, with his masters around him 
He spoke of the Faith as a master to slave. 
Yet at the last, though the Kafirs had maimed 
him. 



f 

116 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Broken by bondage and wrecked by the reiver. 
Yet at the last, tho' the darkness had claimed 

him / 

He called upon Allah, and died a Behever! 



THE CHILDREN'S SONG 

Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee 
Our love and toil in the years to be; 
When we are grown and take our place. 
As men and women with our race. 

Father in Heaven who lovest all. 
Oh help Thy children when they call; 
That they may build from age to age. 
An undefiled heritage. 

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth. 
With steadfastness and careful truth; 
That, in our time. Thy Grace may give 
The Truth whereby the Nations live. 

Teach us to rule ourselves alway. 
Controlled and cleanly night and day; 
That we may bring, if need arise. 
No maimed or worthless sacrifice. 

Teach us to look in all our ends. 

On Thee for judge, and not our friends; 

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118 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed 
By fear or favour of the crowd. 

Teach us the Strength that cannot seek. 
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak; 
That, under Thee, we may possess 
Man's strength to comfort man's distress. 

Teach us DeUght in simple things. 
And Mirth that has no bitter springs; 
Forgiveness free of evil done. 
And Love to all men 'neath the sun ! 

Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride, 

For whose dear sake our fathers died; 

O Motherland, we pledge to thee. 

Head, heart, and hand through the years to be! 



IF 

If you can keep your head when all about you 

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you. 
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you. 

But make allowance for their doubting too; 
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting. 

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, 
Or being hated don't give way to hating. 

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: 

If you can dream — and not make dreams your 
master; 
If you can think — and not make thoughts 
your aim, 
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster 

And treat those two impostors just the same ; 
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken 

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. 
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken. 
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out 
tools : 

119 



no SONGS FROM BOOKS 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 
And lose, and start again at your beginnings 

And never breathe a word about your loss; 
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 

To serve your turn long after they are gone, 
And so hold on when there is nothing in you 

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold 
on!" 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your 
virtue. 
Or walk with Kings — nor lose the common 
touch. 
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, 
If all men count with you, but none too much; 
If you can fill the unforgiving minute 

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, 
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it. 
And — which is more — you'll be a Man, my 
son! 



THE PRODIGAL SON 

(Western Version) 

Here come I to my own again. 
Fed, forgiven and known again. 
Claimed by bone of my bone again 
And cheered by flesh of my flesh. 
The fatted calf is dressed for me, 
But the husks have greater zest for me, 
I think my pigs will be best for me. 
So I'm off to the Yards afresh. 

I never was very refined, you see, 

(And it weighs on my brother's mind, you see) 

But there's no reproach among swine, d'you see. 

For being a bit of a swine. 

So I'm off with wallet and staff to eat 

The bread that is three parts chaff to wheat. 

But glory be! — there's a laugh to it. 

Which isn't the case when we dine. 

My father glooms and advises me, 
My brother sulks and despises me, 

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122 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

And Mother catechises me 
Till I want to go out and swear. 
And, in spite of the butler's gravity, 
I know that the servants have it I 
Am. a monster of moral depravity. 
And I'm damned if I think it's fair! 

I wasted my substance, I know I did, 

On riotous living, so I did. 

But there's nothing on record to show I did 

Worse than my betters have done. 

They talk of the money I spent out there — 

They hint at the pace that I went out there — - 

But they all forget I was sent out there 

Alone as a rich man's son. 

So I was a mark for plunder at once, 

And lost my cash (can you wonder?) at once. 

But I didn't give up and knock under at once, 

I worked in the Yards, for a spell. 

Where I spent my nights and my days with hogs. 

And shared their milk and maize with hogs. 

Till, I guess, I have learned what pays with hogs 

And — I have that knowledge to sell! 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 123 

So back I go to my job again. 

Not so easy to rob again. 

Or quite so ready to sob again 

On any neck that's around. 

I'm leaving, Pater. Good-bye to you! 

God bless you. Mater! I'll write to you. ... 

I wouldn't be impolite to you. 

But, Brother, you are a hound! 



THE NECESSITARIAN 

I know not in Whose hands are laid 

To empty upon earth 
From unsuspected ambuscade 

The very Urns of Mirth; 

Who bids the Heavenly Lark arise 
And cheer our solemn round — 

The Jest beheld with streaming eyes 
And gro veilings on the ground; 

Who joins the flats of Time and Chance 

Behind the prey preferred, 
And thrones on Shrieking Circumstance 

The Sacredly Absurd, 

Till Laughter, voiceless through excess. 
Waves mute appeal and sore. 

Above the midriff's deep distress. 
For breath to laugh once more. 

No creed hath dared to hail Him Lord, 
No raptured choirs proclaim, 

124 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 125 

And NatHi?e*s strenuous Overword 
Hath nowkere breathed His Name. 

Yet, it must be, on wayside jape. 

The selfsame Power bestows 
The selfsame power as went to shape 

His Planet or His Rose. 



THE JESTER 

There are three degrees of bHss 
At the foot of Allah's Throne 
And the highest place is his 
Who saves a brother's soul 
At peril of his own; 
There is the Power made known! 

There are three degrees of bUss 
In the Gardens of Paradise, 
And the second place is his 
Who saves his brother's soul 
By excellent advice. 
For there the Glory lies! 

There are three degrees of bliss 
And three abodes of the Blest, 
And the lowest place is his 
Who has saved a soul by a jest 
And a brother's soul in sport . 
But there do the Angels resort! 

126 



A SONG OF TRAVEL 

Where s the lamp that Hero Ut 

Once to call Leander home? 
Equal Time hath shovelled it 

'Neath the wrack of Greece and Rome. 
Neither wait we any more 
That worn sail which Argo bore. 

Dust and dust of ashes close 

All the Vestal Virgins' care; 
And the oldest altar shows 

But an older darkness there. 
Age-encamped Oblivion 
Tenteth every light that shone! 

Yet shall we, for Suns that die, 
Wall our wanderings from desire? 

Or, because the Moon is high 
Scorn to use a nearer fire? 

Lest some envious Pharaoh stir. 

Make our lives our sepulchre? 

127 



1^ SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Nay! Though Time with petty Fate 

Prison us and Emperors, 
By our Arts do we create 

That which Time himseK devours — 
Such machines as well may run 
'Gainst the horses of the Sun. 

When we would a new abode. 
Space, our tyrant King no more 

Lays the long lance of the road 
At our feet and flees before. 

Breathless, ere we overwhelm. 

To submit a further realm! 



THE TWO-SIDED MAN 

Much I owe to the Land that grew — 
More to the Life that fed — 
But most to Allah Who gave me two 
Separate sides to my head. 

Much I reflect on the Good and the True 
In the Faiths beneath the sun. 
But most upon Allah who gave me two 
Sides to my head, not one. 

Wesley's following, Calvin's flock, 
White or yellow or bronze, 
Shaman, Ju-ju or Angekok 
Minister, Mukamuk, Bonze — 

Here is a health, my brothers, to you 
However your prayers are said. 
And praised be Allah Who gave me two 
Separate sides to my head! 

129 



180 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

I would go without shirt or shoe. 
Friend, tobacco or bread. 
Sooner than lose for a minute the two 
Separate sides of my head! 



AN ASTROLOGER'S SONG 

To the Heavens above us 

O look and behold 
The Planets that love us 

All harnessed in gold! 
What chariots, what horses 

Against us shall bide 
While the Stars in their courses 

Do fight on our side? 

All thought, all desires. 

That are under the sun. 
Are one with their fires. 

As we also are one. 
All matter, all spirit. 

All fashion, all frame. 
Receive and inherit 

Their strength from the same. 

Oh, man that deniest 

All power save thine own 

}S1 



132 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Their power in the highest 

Is mightily shown. 
Not less in the lowest 

That power is made clear. 
(Oh, man, if thou knowest, 

What treasure is here!) 

Earth quakes in her throes 

And we wonder for why. 
But the blind planet knows 

When her ruler is nigh; 
And, attuned since Creation 

To perfect accord. 
She thrills in her station 

And yearns to her Lord. 

The waters have risen. 

The springs are unbound — 
The floods break their prison. 

And ravin around. 
No rampart withstands 'em, 

Their fury will last, 
Till the Sign that commands 'em 

Sinks low or swings past. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 133 

Through abysses unproven. 

And guKs beyond thought. 
Our portion is woven 

Our burden is brought. 
Yet They that prepare it, 

Whose Nature we share. 
Make us who must bear it 

Well able to bear. 

Though terrors o'ertake us 

We'll not be afraid. 
No Power can unmake us 

Save that which has made. 
Nor yet beyond reason 

Or hope shall we fall — 
All things have their season. 

And Mercy crowns all! 

Then, doubt not, ye fearful — 

The Eternal is King — 
Up, heart, and be cheerful. 

And lustily sing: — 
What chariots, what horses. 

Against us shall bide 
While the Stars in their courses 

Do fight on our side? 



"THE POWER OF THE DOG" 

There is sorrow enough in the natural way 
From men and women to fill our day; 
But when we are certain of sorrow in store. 
Why do we always arrange for more? 
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware 
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear. 

Buy a pup and your money will buy 

Love unflinching that cannot lie — 

Perfect passion and worship fed 

By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. 

Nevertheless it is hardly fair 

To risk your heart for a dog to tear. 

When the fourteen years which Nature permits 
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits. 
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs 
To lethal chambers or loaded guns. 
Then you will find — ifs your oivn affair , 
But . . . you^ve given your heart to a dog to tear, 

134 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 135 

When the body that Hved at your single will, 
When the whimper of welcome is stilled (how 

still!) 
When the spirit that answered your every mood 
Is gone — wherever it goes — for good, 
You will discover how much you care. 
And will give your heart to a dog to tear. 

We ve sorrow enough in the natural way. 
When it comes to burying Christian clay. 
Our loves are not given, but only lent. 
At compound interest of cent per cent. 
Though it is not always the case, I believe, 
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we 

grieve : 
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong, 
A short-time loan is as bad as a long — 
So why in — Heaven (before we are there) 
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear? 



THE RABBI'S SONG 

If Thought can reach to Heaven, 

On Heaven let it dwell, 
For fear thy Thought be given 

Like power to reach to Hell. 
For fear the desolation 

And darkness of thy mind 
Perplex an habitation 

Which thou hast left behind. 

Let nothing linger after — 

No whimpering ghost remain, 
In wall, or beam, or rafter, 

Of any hate or pain. 
Cleanse and call home thy spirit. 

Deny her leave to cast. 
On aught thy heirs inherit. 

The shadow of her past. 

For think, in all thy sadness. 
What road our griefs may take; 

136 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 137 

Whose brain reflect our madness. 

Or whom our terrors shake. 
For think, lest any languish 

By cause of thy distress — 
The arrows of our anguish 

Fly farther than we guess. 

Our Uves, our tears, as water. 

Are spilled upon the ground; 
God giveth no man quarter. 

Yet God a means hath found. 
Though faith and hope have vanished, 

And even love grows dim — • 
A means whereby His banished 

Be not expelled from Him. 



THE BEE BOY'S SONG 

Bees! Bees! Hark to your bees! 

''Hide from your neighbours as much as you 

please. 
But all that has happened, to us you must tell. 
Or else we will give you no honey to sell!'^ 

A maiden in her glory. 

Upon her wedding-day, 
Must tell her Bees the story. 
Or else they'll fly away. 

Fly away — die away — 

Dwindle down and leave you! 
But if you don't deceive your Bees, 
Your Bees will not deceive you. 

Marriage, birth or buryin', 

News across the seas, 
All you're sad or merry in. 

You must tell the Bees. 

138 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 139 

Tell 'em coming in an' out. 
Where the Fanners fan, 

'Cause the Bees are just about 
As curious as a man! 

Don't you wait where trees are. 

When the lightnings play. 
Nor don't you hate where Bees are, 
Or else they'll pine away. 

Pine away — dwine away — 
Anything to leave you! 
But if you never grieve your Bees, 
Your Bees '11 never grieve youc 



THE RETURN OF THE CHILDREN 

Neither the harps nor the crowns amused, nor 

the cherubs' dove-winged races — 
Holding hands forlornly the Children wandered 

beneath the Dome, 
Plucking the splendid robes of the passers by, 

and with pitiful faces 
Begging what Princes and Powers refused : — 

"Ah, please will you let us go home?" 

Over the jewelled floor, nigh weeping, ran to 
them Mary the Mother, 

Kneeled and caressed and made promise with kis- 
ses, and drew them along to the gateway — 

Yea, the all-iron unbribeable Door which Peter 
must guard and none other. 

Straightway She took the Keys from his keeping, 
and opened and freed them straightway. 

Then, to Her Son, Who had seen and smiled. She 
said: "On the night that I bore Thee, 

140 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 141 

What didst Thou care for a love beyond mine or 
a heaven that was not my arm? 

Didst Thou push from the nipple, O Child, to 
hear the angels adore Thee? 

When we two lay in the breath of the kine?" 
And He said : — " Thou hast done no harm." 

So through the Void the Children ran homeward 

merrily hand in hand, 
Looking neither to left nor right where the 

breathless Heavens stood still. 
And the Guards of the Void resheathed their 

swords, for they heard the Command: 
"Shall I that have suffered the children to come 

to Me hold them against their will?" 



OLD MOTHER LAIDINWOOL 

*' Old Mother Laidinwool had nigh twelve months 

been dead. 
She heard the hops was doing well an' so popped 

up her head," 
For she said; — "The lads I've hopped with 

when I was young and fair. 
They're bound to be at hopping and I'm bound 

to meet 'em there!" 

Let me up and go 

Back to the work I know. Lord! 

Back to the work I know Lord! 

For it's dark where I lie down My Lord! 

An'' ifs dark where I lie down! 

Old Mother Laidinwool, she give her bones a 

shake. 
An' trotted down the churchyard path as fast as 

she could make. 

142 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 143 

She met the Parson walking, but she says to 

him, says she; — 
"Oh don't let no one trouble for a poor old ghost 

like me!" 



'Twas all a warm September an' the hops had 

flourished grand. 
She saw the folks get into 'em with stockin's 

on their hands; 
An' none of 'em was foreigners but all which she 

had known. 
And old Mother Laidinwool she blessed 'em 

every one. 



She saw her daughters picking an' their childern 

them beside. 
An' she moved among the babies an' she stilled 

'em when they cried. 
She saw their clothes was bought not begged, an' 

they was clean an' fat. 
An' Old Mother Laidinwool she thanked the 

Lord for that. 



144 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Old Mother Laidinwool she waited on all day 
Until it come too dark to see an' people went 

away — 
Until it come too dark to see an' lights began 

to show. 
An' old Mother Laidinwool she hadn't where to 

go. 

Old Mother Laidinwool she give her bones a 

shake. 
An' trotted back to churchyard-mould as fast as 

she could make. 
She went where she was bidden to an' there laid 

down her ghost, . . . 
An' the Lord have mercy on you in the Day you 

need it most! 

Let me in again. 

Out of the wet an' rain. Lord! 

Out of the dark an^ rain. Lord! 

For ifs best as you shall say, My Lord! 

Avb it ^s best as you shall say!^^ 



THE LOOKING-GLASS 

{A Country Dance) 

Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Stand for- 
ward partners all! 
In ruff and stomacher and gown 
She danced King Philip down-a down. 
And left her shoe to show Hwas true — 

[The very tune Fm playing you) 
In Norgem at Brickwalll 

The Queen was in her chamber, and she was 

middUng old, 
Her petticoat was satin, and her stomacher was 

gold. 
Backwards and forwards and sideways did she 

pass, 

Making up her mind to face the cruel looking- 
glass. 

The cruel looking-glass that will never show a 

lass 
As comely or as kindly or as young as what she 

was! 

145 



146 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now hand 
your ^partners all! 

The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of 

her hair. 
There came Queen Mary's spirit and It stood 

behind her chair, 
Singing " Backwards and forwards and sideways 

may you pass, 
But I will stand behind you till you face the 

looking-glass. 
The cruel looking-glass that will never show a 

lass 
As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was !" 



Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now turn 
your partners all! 

The Queen was in her chamber, a-weeping very 

sore. 
There came Lord Leicester's spirit and It 

scratched upon the door. 
Singing "Backwards and forwards and sideways 

may you pass. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 147 

But I will walk beside you till you face the 

looking-glass. 
The cruel looking-glass that will never show a 

lass, 
As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you 
was! 

Queen Bess was Harrys daughter. Now kiss 

your partners all! 
The Queen was in her chamber, her sins were on 

her head. 
She looked the spirits up and down and statelily 

she said: — 
''Backwards and forwards and sideways though 

I've been. 

Yet I am Harry's daughter and I am England's 

Queen!" 
And she faced the looking-glass (and whatever 

else there was) 
And she saw her day was over and she saw her 

beauty pass 
In the cruel looking-glass, that can always hurt 

a lass 
More hard than any ghost there is or any man 

there was! 



THE QUEEN'S MEN 

Valour and Innocence 

Have latterly gone hence 

To certain death by certain shame attended. 

Envy — ah ! even to tears ! — 

The fortune of their years 

Which, though so few, yet so divinely ended. 

Scarce had they Ufted up 

Life's full and fiery cup. 

Than they had set it down untouched before 

them. 
Before their day arose 
They beckoned it to close — 
Close in confusion and destruction o'er them. 

They did not stay to ask 
What prize should crown their task, 
Well sure that prize was such as no man strives 
for; 

148 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 149 

But passed into eclipse 

Her kiss upon their lips — 

Even Belphoebe's, whom they gave their lives 

for! 



THE CITY OF SLEEP 

Over the edge of the purple down. 

Where the single lamplight gleams, 
Know ye the road to the Merciful Town 

That is hard by the Sea of Dreams — 
Where the poor may lay their wrongs away, 

And the sick may forget to weep? 
But we — pity us! Oh, pity us! 

We wakeful; ah, pity us! — 
We must go back with Policeman Day — 

Back from the City of Sleep! 

Weary they turn from the scroll and crown. 

Fetter and prayer and plough — 
They that go up to the Merciful Town, 

For her gates are closing now. 
It is their right in the Baths of Night 

Body and soul to steep. 
But we — pity us ! ah, pity us ! 

We wakeful; oh, pity us! — 
W^e must go back with Policeman Day — 

Back from the City of Sleep ! 

150 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 151 

Over the edge of the purple down, 

Ere the tender dreams begin. 
Look — we may look — at the Merciful Town, 

But we may not enter in! 
Outcasts all, from her guarded wall 

Back to our watch we creep: 
We — pity us! ah, pity us! 

We wakeful; oh, pity us! — 
We that go back with Policeman Day — 

Back from the City of Sleep! 



THE WIDOWER 

For a season there must be pain — 
For a little, little space 
I shall lose the sight of her face. 
Take back the old life again 
While She is at rest in her place. 

For a season this pain must endure. 
For a little, little while 
I shall sigh more often than smile 
Till Time shall work me a cure. 
And the pitiful days beguile. 

For that season we must be apart. 
For a little length of years, 
Till my life's last hour nears. 
And, above the beat of my heart, 
I hear Her voice in my ears. 

But I shall not understand — 
Being set on some later love, 

152 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 153 

Shall not know her for whom I strove, 
Till she reach me forth her hand 
Saying "Who but I have the right?" 
And out of a troubled night 
Shall draw me safe to the land. 



THE PRAYER OF MIRIAM COHEN 

From the wheel and the drift of Things 
Deliver us. Good Lord, 
And we will face the wrath of Kings 
The faggot and the sword! 

Lay not Thy Works before our eyes 
Nor vex us with Thy Wars 
Lest we should feel the straining skies 
O'ertrod by trampling stars. 

Hold us secure behind the gates 

Of saving flesh and bone, 

Lest we should dream what dream awaits 

The soul escaped alone. 

Thy Path, Thy Purposes conceal 
From our beleaguered realm. 
Lest any shattering whisper steal 
Upon us and overwhelm. 

154 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 155 

A veil twixt us and Thee, Good Lord, 
A veil twixt us and Thee, 
Lest we should hear too clear, too clear. 
And unto madness see! 



GOW'S WATCH 

Act II. Scene 2. 

The pavilion in the Gardens, Enter Ferdinand 

and the King 

Ferdinand, Your tiercel's too long at hack, Sir. 

He's no eyass 
But a passage-hawk that footed ere we caught 

him. 
Dangerously free o' the air. Faith were he mine 
(As mine's the glove he binds to for his tirings) 
I'd fly him with a make-hawk. He's in yarak 
Plumed to the very point. So manned so 

weathered ! 
Give him the firmament God made him for 
And what shall take the air of him.^ 



The King. A young wing yet 

Bold — overbold on the perch but, think you, 

Ferdinand, 
He can endure the tall skies yonder .^^ Cozen 

156 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 157 

Advantage out of the teeth of the hurricane? 
Choose his own mate against the lammer-geier? 
Ride out a night-long tempest, hold his pitch 
Between the lightning and the cloud it leaps 

from, 
Never too pressed to kill? 

Ferdinand, I'll answer for him. 

Bating all parable, I know the Prince. 

There's a bleak devil in the young, my Lord, 

God put it there to save 'em from their elders 

And break their father's heart, but bear them 
scatheless 

Through mire and thorns and blood if need be. 
Think 

What our prime saw ! Such glory, such achieve- 
ments 

As now our children wondering at, examine 

Themselves to see if they shall hardly equal. 

But what cared we while we wrought the won- 
ders? Nothing! 

The rampant deed contented 

The King, Little enough, God knows! But 
afterwards? After — 



158 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

There comes the reckoning. I would save 
him that. 

Ferdinand, Save him dry scars that ache of 

winter-nights. 
Worn out self-pity and as much of knowledge 
As makes old men fear judgment.^ Then 

loose him — loose him 
A' God's name loose him to adventure early! 
And trust some random pike, or half -backed 

horse. 
Besides what's caught in Italy, to save him. 

The King, I know. I know. And yet. 
. . . What stirs in the garden? 

Enter Gow and a Gardener bearing the Prince's 

body 

Ferdinand, (Gods give me patience!) Gow 

and a gardener 
Bearing some load along in the dusk to 

the dunghill. 
Nay — a dead branch — But as I said, the 

Prince 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 159 

The King, They've set it down. Strange that 
they work so late. 

Gow {setting down the body), Heark, you un- 
sanctified fool while I set out our story. 
We found it, this side the North park wall 
which it had climbed to pluck nectarines 
from the alley. Heark again! There 
was a nectarine in its hand when we 
found it, and the naughty brick that 
slipped from the coping beneath its foot 
and so caused its death, lies now under 
the wall for the King to see. 

The King {above). The King to see! Why 
should he? Who's the man? 

Gow. That is your tale. Swerve from it by 
so much as the breadth of my dagger 
and here's your instant reward. You 
heard not, saw not, and by the Horns of 
ninefold-cuckolded Jupiter you thought 
not nor dreamed not anything more or 
other I 



160 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

The King. Ninefold-cuckolded Jupiter. That's 
a rare oath! Shall we look closer? 

Ferdinand. Not yet, my Lord I (I cannot hear 
him breathe.) 

Gardener. The North park wall.^^ It was so. 
Plucking nectarines. It shall be. But 
how shall I say if any ask why our 
Lady the Queen 

Gow (stabs him) . Thus ! Hie after the Prince 
and tell him y'are the first fruits of his 
nectarine tree. Bleed there behind the 
laurels. 

The King. Why did Gow buffet the clown.'^ 
What said he? I'll go look. 

Ferdinand {above). Save yourself! It is the 
King! 

Enter the King and Ferdinand to Gow 

Gow. God save you! This was the 

Prince ! 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 161 

The King, The Prince! Not a dead branch? 

(Uncovers the face,) 
My flesh and blood! My son! my son! my 
son! 

Ferdinand (to Gow), I had feared something of 
this. And that fool yonder? 

Gow. Dead, or as good. He cannot speak. 

Ferdinand. Better so. 

The King, *' Loosed to adventure early!" Tell 
the tale. 

Gow. Saddest truth alack! I came upon him 
not a half hour since, fallen from the 
North park wall over against the Deer- 
park side — dead — dead! — a nectarine 
in his hand that the dear lad must have 
climbed for, and plucked the very instant, 
look you, that a brick slipped on the 
coping. 'Tis there now. So I lifted 
him, but his neck was as you see — and 
already cold. 



162 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

The King, Oh, very cold. But why should he 
have troubled to climb? He was free of 
ail the fruit in my garden God knows! 
. . . What, Gow? 

Gow, Surely, God knows! 

The King, A lad's trick. But I love him the 
better for it. . . . True, he's past 
loving. . . . And now we must tell our 
Queen. What a coil at a day's end! 
She'll grieve for him. Not as I shall, Fer- 
dinand, but as youth for youth. They 
were much of the same age. Playmate for 
playmate. See, he wears her colours. That 
is the knot she gave'him last — last. . . . 
Oh God! When was yesterday .^^ 

Ferdinand, Come in! Come in, my Lord. 
There's a dew falling. 

The King, He'll take no harm of it. I'll 

follow presently. 
He's all his mother's now and none of mine — 
Her very face on the bride-pillow. Yet I 

tricked her. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 163 

But that was later — and she never guessed. 
I do not think he sinned much — he's too 

young — 
Much the same age as my Queen. God must 

not judge him 
Too hardly for such slips as youth may fall in. 
But I'll entreat that Throne. 

{Prays by the body,) 

Gow. The Heavens hold up still. Earth opens 
not and this dew's mere water. What shall 
a man think of it all? {To Gardener.) Not 
dead yet, sirrah.^ I bade you follow the 
Prince. Despatch ! 

Gardener. Some kind soul pluck out the dag- 
ger. Why did you slay me.^ I'd done no 
wrong. I'd ha' kept it secret till my dying 
day. But not now — not now ! I'm dying. 
The Prince fell from the Queen's chamber 
window. I saw it in the nut alley. He 
was 

Ferdinand, But what made you in the nut 
alley at that hour.^ 



164 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Gardener. No wrong. No more than another 
man's wife. Jocasta of the still-room. 
She'd kissed me good-night too; but that's 
over with the rest . . . I've stumbled 
on the Prince's beastly loves, and I pay for 
all. Let me pass! 

Gow. Count it your fortune, honest man. 
You would have revealed it to your 
woman at the next meeting. You flesh- 
mongers are all one feather. {Plucks 
out the dagger,) 

Go in peace and lay your death to For- 
tune's door. 
He's sped — thank Fortune ! 

Ferdinand. Who knows not Fortune, glutted on 

easy thrones. 
Stealing from feasts as rare to coney-catch 
Privily in the hedgerows for a clown. 
With that same cruel ^ lustful hand and eye. 
Those nails and wedges, that one hammer and 

lead, 
And the very gerb of long-stored Ughtning loosed. 
Yesterday 'gainst some King. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 165 

The King, I have pursued with prayers where 

my heart warns me 
My soul shall overtake — 

Enter the Queen 

The King, Look not! Wait till I tell you 

dearest. . . . Air! .... 
"Loosed to adventure early" 
. . . . I go late. {Dies.) 

Gow. So! God hath cut off the Prince in his 
pleasures. Gow, to save the King, hath 
silenced one poor fool who knew how it 
befell, and now the King's dead, needs only 
that the Queen should kill Gow and all's 
safe for her this side o' the Judgment 
. . . Senor Ferdinand, the wind's east- 
erly. I'm for the road. 

Ferdinand. My horse is at the gate. God 
speed you. Whither.'* 

Gow. To the Duke, if the Queen does not lay 
hands on me before. However it goes, I 
charge you bear witness, Senor Ferdinand, 
I served the old King faithfully. To the 
death, Senor Ferdinand — to the death! 



THE WISHING CAPS 

Life's all getting and giving, 
I've only myself to give. 
What shall I do for a living? 
I've only one life to live. 
End it? I'll not find another. 
Spend it? But how shall I best? 
Sure the wise plan is to live like a man 
And Luck may look after the rest! 
Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! 
Give or hold at your will. 
If I've no care for Fortune 
Fortune must follow me still. 

Bad Luck, she is never a lady 

But the commonest wench on the street, 

Shuffling, shabby and shady. 

Shameless to pass or meet. 

Walk with her once — it's a weakness! 

Talk to her twice — it's a crime! 

166 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 167 

Thrust her away when she gives you ''good day" 

And the besom won't board you next time. 

Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! 

What is Your Ladyship's mood? 

If I've no care for Fortune, 

My Fortune is bound to be good! 

Good Luck she is never a lady 

But the cursedest quean aKve! 

Tricksey, wincing and jady. 

Kittle to lead or drive. 

Greet her — she's hailing a stranger! 

Meet her — she's busking to leave. 

Let her alone for a shrew to the bone. 

And the hussy comes plucking your sleeve! 

Largesse! Largesse, Fortune! 

I'll neither follow nor flee. 

If I don't run after Fortune 

Fortune must run after me! 



"BY THE HOOF OF THE WILD GOAT' 

By the Hoof of the Wild Goat uptossed 
From the cliff where she lay in the Sun 
Fell the Stone 

To the Tarn where the daylight is lost 
So she fell from the light of the Sun 
And alone! 



Now the fall was ordained from the first 

With the Goat and the Cliff and the Tarn 

But the Stone 

Knows only her life is accursed 

As she sinks from the light of the Sun 

And alone! 



Oh Thou Who has builded the World, 
Oh Thou Who has lighted the Sun, 
Oh Thou Who has darkened the Tarn, 
Judge Thou 

168 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 169 

The sin of the Stone that was hurled 
By the goat from the hght of the Sun, 
As she sinks in the mire of the Tarn, 
Even now — even now — even now ! 



^ CHAPTER HEADINGS 

"BEAST AND MAN IN INDIA" 

They killed a child to please the Gods 
In earth's young penitence 
And I have bled in that Babe's stead 
Because of innocence. 

I bear the sins of sinful men 

That have no sin of my own. 

They drive me forth to Heaven's wrath 

Unpastured and alone. 

I am the meat of sacrifice 

The ransom of man's guilt 

For they give my life to the altar-knife 

Wherever shrine is built. 

The Goat. 

Between tne waving tufts of jungle-grass. 
Up from the river as the twilight falls. 
Across the dust-beclouded plain they pass 
On to the village walls. 

170 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 171 

Great is the sword and mighty is the pen 

But greater far the labouring ploughman's 

blade, 
For on its oxen and its husbandmen 
An Empire's strength is laid. 

The Oxen, 



The torn DOUg^-^s trailing o'er the tusks aslant, 
The saplings reeling in the path he trod. 
Declare his might — our lord the Elephant 
Chief of the ways of God. 



The black bulk heaving where the oxen pant, 
The bowed head toiling where the guns careen. 
Declare our might — our slave the Elephant 
And servant of the Queen. 

The Elephant. 



Dark children of the mere and marsh 
Wallow and waste and lea, 
Outcaste they wait at the village gate 
With folk of low degree. 



172 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Their pasture is in no man's land. 
Their food the cattle's scorn. 
Their rest is mire and their desire 
The thicket and the thorn. 



But woe to those who break their sleep. 
And woe to those who dare 
To rouse the herd-bull from his keep 
The wild boar from his lair! 

Pigs and Buffaloes. 



The beasts are very wise, 
Their mouths are clean of Ues, 
They talk one to the other, 
Bullock to bullock's brother 
Resting after their labours, 
Each in stall with his neighbours. 
But man with goad and whip. 
Breaks up their fellowship, 
Shouts in their silky ears 
Filling their souls with fears, 
When he has ploughed the land. 
He says; — ''They understand." 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 17S 

But the beasts in stall together 
Freed from the yoke and tether 
Say as the torn flanks smoke — 
"Nay, 'twas the whip that spoke." 



LIFE'S HANDICAP 

The doors were wide, the story saith. 
Out of the night came the patient wraith 
He might not speak and he could not stir 
A hair of the Baron's minniver. 
Speechless and strengthless a shadow thin 
He roved the castle to find his kin. 
And oh! 'twas a piteous sight to see 
The dumb ghost follow his enemy! 

The Return of Imray, 



174 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Before my spring I garnered autumn's gain. 
Out of her time my field was white with grain. 
The year gave up her secrets, to my woe. 
Forced and deflowered each sick season lay 
In mystery of increase and decay 
I saw the sunset ere men see the day 
Who am too wise in all I should not know. 

Without Benefit of Clergy. 



MANY INVENTIONS 

And if ye doubt the tale I tell 
Steer through the South Pacific swell 
Go where the branching coral hives 
Unending strife of endless lives, 
Where, leagued about the 'wildered boat 
The rainbow jellies fill and float 
And lilting where the laver lingers 
The starfish trips on all her fingers; 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 175 

Where 'neath his myriad spines ashock 
The sea-egg ripples down the rock. 
An orange wonder daily guessed 
From darkness where the cuttles rest 
Moored o'er the darker deeps that hide 
The blind white sea-snake and his bride 
Who, drowsing, nose the long-lost ships 
Let down through darkness to their lips. 

A Matter of Fact. 

There's a convict more in the Central Jail 

Behind the old mud wall; 

There's a lifter less on the Border trail 

And the Queen's peace over all. 

Dear boys, 

The Queen's peace over all! 

For we must bear our leader's blame. 

On us the shame will fall. 

If we lift our hand from a fettered land 

And the Queen's peace over all 

Dear boys, 

The Queen's peace over all! 

The Lost Legion, 



176 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

'Less you want your toes trod off you'd better 

get back at once. 
For the bullocks are walking two by two. 
The byles are walking two by two. 
And the elephants bring the guns. 
Ho! Yuss! 
Great — big — long — black — forty-pounder 

guns 
Jiggery- jolty to and fro. 
Each as big as a launch in tow — 
Blind — dumb — broad-breeched — beggars o' 

battering-guns. 

My Lord the Elephant 

All the world over, nursing their scars. 
Sit the old fighting-men broke in the wars — 
Sit the old fighting-men, surly and grim. 
Mocking the lilt of the conquerors' hymn. 

Dust of the battle o'erwhelmed them and hid. 
Fame never found them for aught that they did. 
Wounded and spent to the lazar they drew. 
Lining the road where the Legions roll 
through. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 177 

Sons of the Laurel who press to your meed, 
(Worthy God's pity most — ye who succeed!) 
Ere you go triumphmg, crowned, to the stars. 
Pity poor fighting men, broke in the wars! 

Collected. 



KIM 

Unto whose use the pregnant suns are poised 
With idiot moons and stars retracting stars 
Creep thou between — thy coming's all un- 

noised 
Heaven hath her high, as Earth her 'baser wars. 
Heir to these tumults, this affright, that fray 
(By Adam's, father's, own, sin bound alway) 
Peer up, draw out thy horoscope and say 
Which planet mends thy threadbare fate, or 

mars. 



SONG OF THE RED WAR-BOAT 

(683 A.D.) 

Shove off from the wharf -edge! Steady! 
Watch for a smooth! Give way! 
If she feels the lop already 
She'll stand on her head in the bay. 
It's ebb — it's dusk — it's blowing 
The shoals are a mile of white, 
But (snatch her along!) we're going 
To find our master to-night. 

For we hold that in all disaster 
Of shipwreck, storm, or sword, 
A Man must stand by his Master 
When once he has pledged his word. 

Raging seas have we rowed in 
But we seldom saw them thus. 
Our master is angry with Odin — 
Odin is angry with us! 
Heavy odds have we taken. 
But never before such odds. 

178 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 179 

The Gods know they are forsaken. 
We must risk the wrath of the Gods! 

Over the crest she flies from, 
Into its hollow she drops, 
Cringes and clears her eyes from 
The wind-torn breaker-tops, 
Ere out on the shrieking shoulder 
Of a hill-high surge she drives. 
Meet her! Meet her and hold her! 
Pull for your scoundrel lives! 

The thunders bellow and clamour 
The harm that they mean to do! 
There goes Thor's own Hammer 
Cracking the dark in two! 
Close! But the blow has missed her. 
Here comes the wind of the blow! 
Row or the squall '11 twist her 
Broadside on to it ! — Row! 

Heark 'ee, Thor of the Thunder, 
We are not here for a jest — 
For wager, warfare or plunder. 
Or to put your power to test. 



180 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

This work is none of our wishing 
We would house at home if we might - 
But our master is wrecked out fishing. 
We go to find him to-night. 

For we hold that in all disaster — 
As the Gods Themselves have said — 
A Man must stand by his Master 
Till one of the two is dead. 

That is our way of thinking, 

Now you can do as you will. 

While we try to save her from sinking, 

And hold her head to it still. 

Bale her and keep her moving, 

Or she'll break her back in the trough. 

Who said the weather's improving, 

Or the swells are taking off.^ 

Sodden, and chafed and aching, 

Gone in the loins and knees — 

No matter — the day is breaking. 

And there's far less weight to the seas! 

Up mast, and finish baling — 

In oars, and out with the mead — 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 181 

The rest will be two-reef sailing. . . . 
That was a night indeed! 

But we hold that in all disaster 
{And faith ^ we have found it true!) 
If only you stand by your master ^ S 
The Gods will stand by you! 



BLUE ROSES 

Roses red and roses white 
Plucked I for my love's delight. 
She would none of all my posies ~ 
Bade me gather her blue roses. 

Half the world I wandered through; 
Seeking where such flowers grew 
Half the world unto my quest 
Answered me with laugh and jest. 

Home I came at wintertide 
But my silly love had died 
Seeking with her latest breath 
Roses from the arms of Death. 

It may be beyond the grave 
She shall find what she would have. 
Mine was but an idle quest — 
Roses white and red are best. 



182 



BUTTERFLIES 

Eyes aloft, over dangerous places. 

The children follow the butterflies 

And, in the sweat of their upturned faces. 

Slash with a net at the empty skies. 

So it goes they fall amid brambles. 
And sting their toes on the nettle-tops. 
Till after a thousand scratches and scrambles. 
They wipe their brows and the hunting stops. 

Then to quiet them comes their father 
And stills the riot of pain and grief. 
Saying, ''Little ones, go and gather 
Out of my garden a cabbage-leaf. 

"You will find on it whorls and clots of 
Dull gray eggs that, properly fed. 
Turn, by way of the worm, to lots of 
Glorious butterflies raised from the dead. . /*'. ** 

183 



184 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

"Heaven is beautiful. Earth is ugly'* 
The three-dimensioned preacher saith. 
So we must not look where the snail and the slug lie 
For Psyche's birth. . . . And that is our 
death! 



MY LADY'S LAW 

The Law whereby my lady moves 
Was never Law to me. 
But 'tis enough that she approves 
Whatever Law it be. 

For in that Law, and by that Law, 
My constant course I'll steer; 
Not that I heed or deem it dread. 
But that she holds it dear. 

Tho Asia sent for my content 
Her richest argosies. 
Those would I spurn, and bid return. 
If that should give her ease. 

With equal heart I'd watch depart 
Each spiced sail from sight. 
Sans bitterness, desiring less 
Great gear than her delight. 

Though Kings made swift with many a gift 
My proven sword to hire — 

185 



186 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

I would not go nor serve 'em so — 
Except at her desire. 

"With even mind, I'd put behind 
Adventure and acclaim. 
And clean give o'er, esteeming more 
Her favour than my fame. 

Yet such am I, yea such am I — 
Sore bond and freest free. 
The Law that sways my lady's ways 
Is mystery to me! 



THE NURSING SISTER 

(Maternity Hospital) 

Our sister sayeth such and such. 
And we must bow to her behests; 
Our sister toileth overmuch. 
Our Uttle maid that hath no breasts. 

A field untilled, a web unwove, 
A flower withheld from sun or bee. 
An alien in the courts of Love, 
And — teacher unto such as we! 

We love her, but we laugh the while. 

We laugh, but sobs are mixed with laughter; 

Our sister hath no time to smile. 

She knows not what must follow after 

Wind of the South, arise and blow. 
From beds of spice thy locks shake free; 
Breathe on her heart that she may know. 
Breathe on her eyes that she may see. 

187 



188 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Alas! we vex her with our mirth, 
And maze her with most tender scorn. 
Who stands beside the gates of Birth, 
Herself a child — a child unborn! 

Our sister sayeih such and such. 
And we must how to her behests; 
Our sister toileth overmuch. 
Our little maid that hath no breasts* 



THE LOVE SONG OF HAR DYAL 

Alone upon the housetops to the North 
I turn and watch the Hghtning in the sky — 
The glamour of thy footsteps in the North 
Come bach to me. Beloved, or I die. 

Below my feet the still bazar is laid — 
Far, far below the weary camels lie — 
The camels and the captives of thy raid 
Come hack to me. Beloved, or I die! 

My father's wife is old and harsh with years 
And drudge of all my father's house am I — 
My bread is sorrow and my drink is tears. 
Come hack to me. Beloved, or I die! 



189 



A DEDICATION 

And they were stronger hands than mine 
That digged the Ruby from the earth — 
More cunning brains that made it worth 
The large desire of a king, 
And stouter hearts that through the brine 
Went down the perfect Pearl to bring. 

Lo, I have wrought in common clay 
Rude figures of a rough-hewn race. 
Since pearls strew not the market place 
In this my town of banishment 
Where with the shifting dust I play. 
And eat the bread of discontent. 

Yet is there life in that I make. 

O thou who knowest, turn and see — 

As thou hast power over me 

So have I power over these 

Because I wrought them for thy sake. 

And breathed in them mine agonies. 

190 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 191 

Small mirth was in the making — now 
I lift the cloth that cloaks the clay. 
And, wearied, at thy feet I lay 
My wares, ere I go forth to sell. 
The long bazar will praise, but thou — 
Heart of my heart — have I done well? 



MOTHER O' MINE 

If I were hanged on the highest hill, 
Mother o' miney mother o' mine! 
I know whose love would follow me still, 
Mother o' mine, mother o' mine! 

If I were drowned in the deepest sea. 
Mother d mine, mother o' mine! 
I know whose tears would come down to me, 
Mother o' mine, mother o' mine! 

If I were damned of body and soul, 

I know whose prayers would make me whole, 

Mother o' mine, mother o' mine! 



192 



THE ONLY SON 

She dropped the bar, she shot the bolt, she fed 

the fire anew. 
For she heard a whimper under the sill and a 

great grey paw came through. 
The fresh flame comforted the hut and shone on 

the roof -beam, 
And the Only Son lay down again and dreamed 

that he dreamed a dream. 
The last ash fell from the withered log with the 

click of a falling spark. 
And the Only Son woke up again, and called 

across the dark; — 
"Now was I born of womankind and laid in a 

mother's breast? 
For I have dreamed of a shaggy hide whereon I 

went to rest? 
And was I born of womankind and laid on a 

father's arm? 
For I have dreamed of clashing teeth that 

guarded me from harm. 

193 



194 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

And was I born an Only Son and did I play- 
alone? 
For I have dreamed of comrades twain that bit 

me to the bone. 
And did I break the barley-cake and steep it in 

the tyre? 
For I have dreamed of a youngling kid new-riven 

from the byre. 
For I have dreamed of a midnight sky and a 

midnight call to blood 
And red-mouthed shadows racing by, that thrust 

me from my food. 
'Tis an hour yet and an hour yet to the rising of 

the moon, 
But I can see the black roof-tree as plain as it 

were noon. 
'Tis a league and a league to the Lena Falls where 

the trooping blackbuck go; 
But I can hear the little fawn that bleats behind 

the doe. 
'Tis a league and a league to the Lena Falls where 

the crop and the upland meet. 
But I can smell the wet dawn-wind that wakes 

the sprouting wheat. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 195 

Unbar the door, I may not bide, but I must out 

and see 
If those are wolves that wait outside or my own 

kin to me!" 



She loosed the bar, she slid the bolt, she opened 

the door anon, 
And a grey bitch-wolf came out of the dark and 

fawned on the Only Son! 



ROMULUS AND REMUS 

Oh, little did the WoK-Child care — 
When first he planned his home, 

What city should arise and bear 
The weight and state of Rome. 

A shiftless, westward -wandering tramp ^ 
Checked by the Tiber flood, 

He reared a wall around his camp 
Of uninspired mud. 

But when his brother leaped the Wall 
And mocked its height and make, 

He guessed the future of it all 
And slew him for its sake. 

Swift was the blow — swift as the thought 
Which showed him in that hour 

How unbelief may bring to naught 
The early steps of Power. 

Foreseeing Time's imperilled hopes 
Of Glory, Grace, and Love — 

196 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 197 

All singers, Caesars, artists, Popes — 
Would fail if Remus throve. 

He sent his brother to the Gods, 

And, when the fit was o'er. 
Went on collecting turves and clods 

To build the Wall once more! 



THE EGG-SHELL 

The wind took off with the sunset — 

The fog came up with the tide. 

When the Witch of the North took an Egg-shell 

With a little Blue Devil inside. 

"Sink," she said, "or swim," she said, 

"It's all you will get from me. 

And that is the finish of him!" she said. 

And the Egg-shell went to sea. 

The wind fell dead with the midnight — 

The fog shut down like a sheet. 

When the Witch of the North heard the Egg-shell 

Feeling by hand for a fleet. 

"Get!" she said, "or you're gone," she said. 

But the little Blue Devil said "No!" 

" The sights are just coming on," he said. 

And he let the Whitehead go. 

The wind got up with the morning — 
And the fog blew off with the rain, 

198 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 199 

When the Witch of the North saw the Egg-shell 

And the little Blue Devil again. 

"Did you swim?" she said. "Did you sink?'* 

she said. 
And the Little Blue Devil replied: 
"For myself I swam, but I think," he said, 
"There's somebody sinking outside." 



THE KING'S TASK 

After the sack of the City when Rome was sunk 

to a name 
In the years that the lights were darkened, or 

ever St. Wilfrid came 
Low on the borders of Britain (the ancient poets 

sing) 
Between the Cliff and the Forest there ruled a 

Saxon King. 
Stubborn all were his people from cottar to 

overlord — 
Not to be cowed by the cudgel, scarce to be 

schooled by the sword; 
Quick to turn at their pleasure, cruel to cross 

in their mood. 
And set on paths of their choosing as the hogs 

of Andred's Wood. 
Laws they made in the Witan — the laws of 

flaying and fine — 
Common, loppage and pannage, the theft and 

the track of kine — 

200 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 201 

Statutes of tun and market for the fish and the 

malt and the meal — 
The tax on the Bramber packhorse and the tax 

on the Hastings keel. 
Over the graves of the Druids and under the 

wreck of Rome 
Rudely but surely they bedded the plinth of the 

days to come. 
Behind the feet of the Legions and before the 

Norseman's ire 
Rudely but greatly begat they the framing of 

state and shire. 
Rudely but deeply they laboured, and their 

labour stands till now 
If we trace on our ancient headlands the twist of 

their eight-ox plough. 
There came a king from Hamtun, by Bosenham 

he came, 
He filled Use with slaughter, and Lewes he gave 

to flame. 
He smote while they sat in the Witan — sudden 

he smote and sore. 
That his fleet was gathered at Selsea ere they 

mustered at Cymen's Ore. 



202 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Blithe went the Saxons to battle, by down and 

wood and mere. 
But thrice the acorns ripened ere the western 

mark was clear. 
Thrice was the beechmast gathered and the 

Beltane fires burned 
Thrice, and the beeves were salted thrice ere 

the host returned. 
They drove that king from Hamtun, by Bosen- 

ham overthrown, 
Out of Rugnor to Wilton they made his land 

their own. 
Camps they builded at Gilling, at Basing and 

Alresford, 
But wrath abode in the Saxons from cottar to 

overlord. 
Wrath at the weary war-game, at the foe that 

snapped and ran 
Wolf-wise feigning and flying, and wolf-wise 

snatching his man. 
Wrath for their spears unready, their levies new 

to the blades — 
Shame for the helpless sieges and the scornful 

ambuscades. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 203 

At hearth and tavern and market, wherever 

the tale was told. 
Shame and wrath had the Saxons because of 

their boasts of old. 
And some would drink and deny it, and some 

would pray and atone; 
But the most part, after their anger, avouched 

that the sin was their own. 
Wherefore, girding together, up to the Witan 

they came, 
And as they had shouldered their bucklers so 

did they shoulder their blame. 
For that was the wont of the Saxons (the 

ancient poets sing) 
And first they spoke in the Witan and then they 

spoke to the King: 
"Edward King of the Saxons, thou knowest 

from sire to son, 
"One is the King and his People — in gain and 

ungain one. 
"Count we the gain together. With doubtings 

and spread dismays 
"We have broken a foolish people — but after 

many days. 



204 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

"Count we the loss together. Warlocks ham- 
pered our arms 
"We were tricked as by magic, we were turned 

as by charms. 
"We went down to the battle and the road was 

plain to keep 
"But our angry eyes were holden, and we struck 

as they strike in sleep — 
"Men new shaken from slumber, sweating, with 

eyes a-stare 
"Little blows uncertain dealt on the useless 

air. 
"Also a vision betrayed us and a lying tale 

made bold 
"That we looked to hold what we had not and 

to have what we did not hold: 
"That a shield should give us shelter — that a 

sword should give us power 
"A shield snatched up at a venture and a hilt 

scarce handled an hour: 
"That being rich in the open, we should be 

strong in the close — 
"And the Gods would sell us a cunning for the 

day that we met our foes. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 205 

^'This was the work of wizards, but not with our 

foe they bide 
"'In our own camp we took them, and their 

names are Sloth and Pride. 
"Our pride was before the battle; our sloth ere 
we lifted spear, 
But hid in the heart of the people as the fever 

hides in the mere. 
Waiting only the war-game, the heat of the 

strife to rise 
As the ague fumes round Oxeney when the 

rotting reed-bed dries. 
But now we are purged of that fever — 
cleansed by the letting of blood 
"Something leaner of body — something keener 

of mood. 
"And the men new freed from the levies return 
to the fields again, 
Matching a hundred battles, cottar and lord 

and thane, 
And they talk aloud in the temples where the 

ancient wargods are. 
They thumb and mock and belittle the holy 
harness of war. 



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206 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

"They jest at the sacred chariots, the robes and 

the gilded staff. 
** These things fill them with laughter, they lean 

on their spears and laugh. 
*'The men grown old in the war-game, hither and 

thither they range — 
*'And scorn and laughter together are sire and 

dam of change; 
And change may be good or evil — but we 

know not what it will bring 
Therefore our King must teach us. That is 

thy task, O King!" 



«c 



^( 



POSEIDON'S LAW 

When the robust and Brass-bound Man com- 
missioned first for sea 

His fragile raft, Poseidon laughed, and 
"Mariner," said he, 

*' Behold, a Law immutable I lay on thee and 
thine, 

That never shall ye act or tell a falsehood at my 
shrine. 

''Let Zeus adjudge your landward kin whose 

votive meal and salt 
At easy-cheated altars win oblivion for the fault, 
But you the unhoodwinked wave shall test — - 

the immediate gulf condemn — 
Except ye owe the Fates a jest, be slow to jest 

with them. 

"Ye shall not clear by Greekly speech, nor cozen 

from your path 
The twinkling shoal, the leeward beach, and 

Hadria's white-lipped wrath; 

207 



£08 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Nor tempt with painted cloth for wood my 

fraud-avenging hosts; 
Nor make at all, or all make good, your bulwarks 

and your boasts. 



*'Now and henceforward serve unshod, through 

wet and wakeful shifts, 
A present and oppressive God, but take, to aid, 

my gifts — 
The wide and windward-opening eye, the large 

and lavish hand, 
The soul that cannot tell a lie — except upon the 

land!" 



In dromond and in catafract — wet, wakeful, 
windward-eyed — 

He kept Poseidon's Law intact (his ship and 
freight beside). 

But, once discharged the dromond's hold, the 
bireme beached once more, 

Splendaciously mendacious rolled the Brass- 
bound Man ashore. 



SONGS FEOM BOOKS 209 

The thranite now and thalamite are pressures 

low and high, 
And where three hundred blades bit white the 

twin-propellers ply : 
The God that hailed, the keel that sailed, are 

changed beyond recall. 
But the robust and Brass-bound Man he is not 

changed at all! 

From Punt returned, from Phormio's Fleet, 
from Javan and Gadire, 

He strongly occupies the seat about the tavern 
fire. 

And, moist with much Falernian or smoked 
Massilian juice. 

Revenges there the Brass-bound Man his long- 
enforced truce! 



A TRUTHFUL SONG 

The Bricklayer: 

/ tell this tale, which is strictly true. 
Just by way of convincing you 
How very little, since things were made. 
Things have altered in the building trade. 

A year ago, come the middle of March, 
We was building flats near the Marble Arch, 
When a thin young man with coal-black hair 
Came up to watch us working there. 

Now there wasn't a trick in brick or stone 
That this young man hadn't seen or known; 
Nor there wasn't a tool from trowel to maul 
But this young man could use 'em all! 

Then up and spoke the plumbyers bold. 
Which was laying the pipes for the hot and cold ; 
*' Since you with us have made so free. 
Will you kindly say what your name might be?" 

210 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 211 

The young man kindly answered them; 
"It might be Lot or Methusalem, 
Or it might be Moses (a man I hate) 
Whereas it is Pharaoh surnamed the Great. 

"Your glazing is new and your plumbing's 

strange. 
But otherwise I perceive no change. 
And in less than a month if you do as I bid 
I'd learn you to build me a Pyramid!" 

The Sailor: 

I tell this tale, which is stricter true. 

Just by way of convincing you 

How very little, since things was made. 

Things have altered in the shipwright's trade. 

In Blackwall Basin yesterday 

A China barque re-fitting lay; 

When a fat old man with snow-white hair 

Came up to watch us working there. 

Now there wasn't a knot which the riggers 

knew 
But the old man made it — and better too; 



212 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Nor there wasn't a sheet, or a lift, or a brace. 
But the old man knew its lead and place. 

Then up and spake the caulkyers bold. 
Which was packing the pump in the after- 
hold; 
"Since you with us have made so free, 
Will you kindly tell what your name might be?" 

The old man kindly answered them; 

"It might be Japheth, it might be Shem, 

Or it might be Ham (though his skin was 

dark) 
Whereas it is Noah, commanding the Ark. 

"Your wheel is new and your pumps are 

strange. 
But otherwise I perceive no change, 
And in less than a week, if she did not ground, 
I'd sail this hooker the wide world round!'* 

Both: 

We tell these tales, which are strictest true. 
Just by way of convincing you, 
How very little, since things was made. 
Anything alters in any one^s trade. 



A SMUGGLER'S SONG 

If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet, 
Don't go drawing back the bhnd, or looking in 

the street. 
Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie. 
Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentle- 
men go by! 

Five and twenty ponies. 
Trotting through the dark — 
Brandy for the Parson, 
'Baccy for the Clerk; 
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy. 
And watch the wall, my darling, while the 
Gentlemen go by! 

Running round the woodlump if you chance to 

find 
Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of 

brandy-wine. 
Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em 

for your play. 
Put the brishwood back again — and they'll be 

gone next day! 

213 



214 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

If you see the stable-door setting open wide; 

If you see a tired horse lying down inside; 

If your mother mends a coat cut about and 

tore; 
If the lining's wet and warm — don't you ask 

no more! 

If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue 

and red, 
You be careful what you say, and mindful what 

is said. 
If they call you "pretty maid," and chuck you 

'neath the chin. 
Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no 

one's been! 

Knocks and footsteps round the house — 
whistles after dark — 

You've no call for running out till the house- 
dogs bark. 

Trusty'' s here, and Pincher's here, and see how 
dumb they lie — 

They don't fret to follow when the Gentlemen 
goby! 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 215 

If you do as you've been told, 'likely there's a 

chance, 
You'll be give a dainty doll, all the way from 

France, 
With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood — 
A present from the Gentlemen, along o' being 
good! 

Five and twenty ponies. 
Trotting through the dark. 
Brandy for the Parson, 
'Baccy for the Clerk. 
Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie — 
Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentle- 
men go by! 



KING HENRY VII AND THE SHIPWRIGHTS 

(a.d. 1487) 

Harry, our King in England, from London town 
is gone. 

And comen to Hamuli on the Hoke in the countie 
of Suthampton. 

For there lay The Mary of the Tower, his ship of 
war so strong, 

And he would discover, certaynely, if his ship- 
wrights did him wrong. 

He told not none of his setting forth, nor yet 

where he would go, 
(But only my Lord of Arundel) and meanly did 

he show. 
In an old jerkin and patched hose that no man 

might him mark, 
With his frieze hood and cloak above, he looked 

like any clerk. 

He was at Hamuli on the Hoke about the hour of 
the tide, 

216 



* SONGS FROM BOOKS 217 

And saw the Mary haled into dock, the winter to 

abide, 
With all her tackle and habilaments which are 

the King his own; 
But then ran on his false shipwrights and 

stripped her to the bone. 

They heaved the main-mast overboard, that was 

of a trusty tree, 
And they wrote down it was spent and lost by 

force of weather at sea. 
But they sawen it into planks and strakes as far 

as it might go. 
To maken beds for their own wives and little 

children also. 

There was a knave called Slingawai, he crope 

beneath the deck. 
Crying: ''Good felawes, come and see! The 

ship is nigh a wreck! 
For the storm that took our tall main-mast, it 

blew so fierce and fell. 
Alack! it hath taken the kettles and pans, and 

this brass pott as well!" 



218 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

With that he set the pott on his head and hied 
him up the hatch, 

While all the shipwrights ran below to find what 
they might snatch; 

All except Bob Brygandyne and he was a yeo- 
man good. 

He caught Slingawai round the waist and threw 
him on to the mud. 

"I have taken plank and rope and nail, without 

the King his leave. 
After the custom of Portesmouth, but I will not 

suffer a thief. 
Nay, never lift up thy hand at me ! There's no 

clean hands in the trade — 
Steal in measure," quo' Brygandyne. "There's 

measure in all things made!" 

"Gramercy, yeoman!" said our King. '*Thy 

council liketh me." 
And he pulled a whistle out of his neck and 

whistled whistles three. 
Then came my Lord of Arundel pricking across 

the down. 
And behind him the Mayor and Burgesses of 

merry Suthampton town. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 219 

They drew the naughty shipwrights up, with the 

kettles in their hands. 
And bound them round the forecastle to wait 

the King's commands. 
But "Since ye have made your beds," said the 

King, "ye needs must lie thereon. 
For the sake of your wives and little ones — 

felawes, get you gone!" 



When they had beaten Slingawai, out of his own 

lips 
Our King appointed Brygandyne to be Clerk of 

all his ships. 
"Nay, never lift up thy hands to me — there's 

no clean hands in the trade. 
But steal in measure," said Harry our King. 

"There's measure in all things made!" 



God speed the ''Mary of the Tower,'' the ''Sover- 
eign'' and "Grace Dieu," 

The "Sweepstakes" and the "Mary Fortune,'* 
and the "Henry 0/ Bristol" too! 



220 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

All tall ships that sail on the sea, or in our harbours 

stand. 
That they may keep measure with Harry our King 

and peace in Engeland! 



THE WET LITANY 

When the water's countenance 

Blurrs 'twixt glance and second glance; 

Then our tattered smokes forerun 

Ashen 'neath a silvered sun; 

When the curtain of the haze 

Shuts upon our helpless ways — 

Hear the Channel Fleet at sea; 

Libera nos Dominel 

When the engines' bated pulse 
Scarcely thrills the nosing hulls; 
When the wash along the side 
Sounds, a sudden, magnified; 
When the intolerable blast 
Marks each blindfold minute passed; 

When the fog-buoy's squattering flight 
Guides us through the haggard night; 
When the warning bugle blows; 

221 



222 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

When the lettered doorways close; 
When our brittle townships press. 
Impotent, on emptiness; 

When the unseen leadsmen lean 
Questioning a deep unseen; 
When their lessened count they tell 
To a bridge invisible; 
When the hid and perilous 
Cliffs return our cry to us; 

When the treble thickness spread 
Swallows up our next-ahead; 
When her siren's frightened whine 
Shows her sheering out of line; 
When, her passage undiscerned. 
We must turn where she has turned. 

Hear the Channel Fleet at sea: 

Libera nos Domine! 



THE BALLAD OF MINEPIT SHAW 

About the time that taverns shut 
And men can buy no beer. 

Two lads went up to the keepers' hut 
To steal Lord Pelham's deer. 



Night and the liquor was in their heads — 
They laughed and talked no bounds. 

Till they waked the keepers on their beds 
And the keepers loosed the hounds. 

They had killed a hart, they had killed a hind. 

Ready to carry away, 
When they heard a whimper down the wind 

And they heard a bloodhound bay. 

They took and ran across the fern, 

Their crossbows in their hand. 
Till they met a man with a green lantern 

That called and bade 'em stand. 

223 



£24 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

*' What are ye doing, O Flesh and Blood, 

And what's your foolish will. 
That you must break into Minepit Wood 

And wake the Folk of the Hill?" 

"Oh, we've broke into Lord Pelham's park, 

And killed Lord Pelham's deer. 
And if ever you heard a little dog bark 

You'll know why we come here. 

**We ask you let us go our way, 

As fast as we can flee, 
For if ever you heard a bloodhound bay 

You'll know how pressed we be." 

"Oh, lay your crossbows on the bank 
And drop the knife from your hand. 

And though the hounds are at your flank 
I'll save you where you stand!" 

They laid their crossbows on the bank. 
They threw their knives in the wood. 

And the ground before them opened and sank 
And saved 'em where they stood. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 225 

"Oh, what's the roaring in our ears 
That strikes us well-nigh dumb?" 

"Oh, that is just how things appears 
According as they come." 

"What are the stars before our eyes 
That strike us well-nigh blind?" 

"Oh, that is just how things arise 
According as you find." 

"And why's our bed so hard to the bones 

Excepting where it's cold?" 
"Oh, that's because it is precious stones 

Excepting where 'tis gold. 

"Think it over as you stand 

For I tell you without fail 
If you haven't got into Fairyland 

You're not in Lewes Gaol." 

All night long they thought of it 

And, come the dawn, they saw 
They'd tumbled into a great old pit, 

At the bottom of Minepit Shaw. 



226 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

And the keepers' hound had followed 'em close, 
And broke her neck in the fall; 

So they picked up their knives and their cross- 
bows 
And buried the dog. That's all. 

But whether the man was a poacher too 

Or a Pharisee* so bold — 
I reckon there's more things told than are true. 

And more things true than are told! 



*A fairy. 



HERIOT'S FORD 

'* What's that that hirples at my side?" 
The foe that you must fight, my lord, 
"That rides as fast as I can ride?" 
The shadow of your might, my dord. 

''Then wheel my horse against the foe!" 
He's down and overpast, my lord. 
You war against the sunset glow. 
The judgment follows fast, my lord! 

"Oh who will stay the sun's descent?" 
King Joshua he is dead, my lord. 
''I need an hour to repent!'* 
^Tis what our sister said, my lord. 



do not slay me in my sins!" 
YouWe safe awhile with us^ my lord, 
"Nay, kill me ere my fear begins," 
We would not serve you thus, my lord. 

"Where is the doom that I must face?'* 
Three little leagues away, my lord, 

227 



£28 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

"Then mend the horses' laggard pace!" 
We need them for next day, my lord. 

"Next day — next day! Unloose my cords!" 
Our sister needed none, my lord. 
You have no mind to face our swords. 
And — where can cowards run, my lord ? 

"You would not kill the soul alive?" 
'Twas thus our sister cried, my lord. 
"I dare not die with none to shrive," 
But so our sister died, my lord. 

"Then wipe the sweat from brow and cheek," 
It runnels forth afresh, my lord. 
"Uphold me — for the flesh is weak" 
You've finished with the Flesh, my lord. 



FRANKIE'S TRADE 

Old Horn to All Atlantic said: 

(A-kay 0! To me 01) 
**Now where did Frankie learn his trade? 
For he ran me down with a three-reef mains'le. 

{All round the Horn!) 



Atlantic answered: — "Not from me! 
You'd better ask the cold North Sea, 
For he ran me down under all plain canvas. 
{All round the Horn!) 



99 



» 



The North Sea answered: — "He's my man. 
For he came to me when he began — 
Frankie Drake in an open coaster." 
{All round the Sands!) 

"I caught him young and I used him sore. 
So you never shall startle Frankie more. 
Without capsizing Earth and her waters." 
{All round the Sands!) 

229 



^30 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

**I did not favour him at all. 
I made him pull and I made him haul — 
And stand his trick with the common sailors. 
(All round the Sands!) 

"I froze him stiff and I fogged him blind. 
And kicked him home with his road to find 
By what he could see in a three-day snow-storm. 
(All round the Sands!) 

"I learned him his trade o' winter nights, 
'Twixt Mardyk Fort and Dunkirk lights 
On a five-knot tide with the forts a-firing. 
(All round the Sands!) 

"Before his beard began to shoot, 
I showed him the length of the Spaniard's foot — 
And I reckon he clapped the boot on it later. 
(All round the Sands!) 

"If there's a risk which you can make, 
That's worse than he was used to take 
Nigh every week in the way of his business; 
(All round the Sands!) 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 231 

"If there's a trick that you can try. 
Which he hasn't met in time gone by. 
Not once or twice, but ten times over; 
(All round the Sands!) 

"If you can teach him aught that's new, 

(A-hay 0! To me 01) 
I'll give you Bruges and Niewport too. 
And the ten tall churches that stand between 
'em." 

Storm along my gallant Captains! 

(All round the Horn!) 



THE JUGGLER'S SONG 

When the drums begin to beat 

Down the street, 

When the poles are fetched and guyed. 

When the tight-rope's stretched and tied, 

TVhen the dance-girls make salaam. 

When the snake-bag wakes alarm. 

When the pipes set up their drone. 

When the sharp-edged knives are thrown. 

When the red-hot coals are shown. 

To be swallowed by and bye — 

Arre Brethren, here come I! 

Stripped to loin-cloth in the sun 
Search me well and watch me close! 
Tell me how my tricks are done — 
Tell me how the mango grows? 

Give a man who is not made 
To his trade 

Swords to fling and catch again. 
Coins to ring and snatch again. 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 233 

Men to harm and cure again. 
Snakes to charm and lure again — 
He'll be hurt by his own blade. 
By his serpents disobeyed. 
By his clumsiness bewrayed. 
By the people laughed to scorn. 
So 'tis not with juggler born! 

Pinch of dust or withered flower. 
Chance-flung nut or borrowed staflF, 
Serve his need and shore his power 
Bind the spell or loose the laugh! 



THORKILD'S SONG 

There's no wind along these seas, 

Out oars for Stavanger! 

Forward all for Stavanger! 

So we must wake the white-ash breeze, 

Let fall for Stavanger! 

A long pull for Stavanger! 

Oh, hear the benches creak and strain! 
(A long pull for Stavanger!) 
She thinks she smells the Northland rain! 
(A long pull for Stavanger!) 

She thinks she smells the Northland snow. 
And she's as glad as we to go. 

She thinks she smells the Northland rime. 
And the dear dark nights of winter-time. 

She wants to be at her own home pier. 
To shift her sails and standing gear. 

234 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 235 

She wants to be in her winter-shed, 
To strip herself and go to bed. 

Her very bolts are sick for shore, 
And we — we want it ten times more! 

So all you Gods that love brave men. 
Send us a three-reef gale again! 

Send us a gale, and watch us come, 
With close-cropped canvas slashing home! 

But — there's no wind on all these seas, 
A long pull for Stavanger! 
So we must wake the white-ash breeze, 
A long pull for Stavanger! 



SONG OF THE MEN'S SmE 

(Neolithic) 

Once we feared The Beast — when he followed 
us we ran. 
Ran very fast though we knew 
It was not right that The Beast should master 
Man; 
But what could we Flint-workers do? 
The Beast only grinned at our spears round his 
ears — 
Grinned at the hammers that we made; 
But now we will hunt him for the life with the 
Knife — 
And this is the Buyer of the Blade! 

Room for his shadow on the grass — let it pass! 

To left and right — stand clear! 
This is the Buyer of the Blade — be afraid! 

This is the great god Tyr! 

Tyr thought hard till he hammered out a plan. 
For he knew it was not right 

236 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 237 

(And it is not right) that The Beast should 

master Man; 
So he went to the Children of the Night. 
He begged a Magic Knife of their make for our 
saKe. 
When he begged for the Knife they said: 
*' The price of the Knife you would buy is an eye ! " 
And that was the price he paid. 

Tell it to the Barrows of the Dead — run ahead! 

Shout it so the Women's Side can hear! 
This is the Buyer of the Blade — he afraid! 

This is the great god Tyr! 

Our women and our little ones may walk on the 
Chalk, 
' As far as we can see them and beyond. 
We shall not be anxious for our sheep when we keep 

Tally at the shearing-pond. 
We can eat with both our elbows on our knees, 
if we please. 
We can sleep after meals in the sun; 
For Shepherd of the Twilight is dismayed at the 
Blade, 
Feet-in-the-Night have run! 



238 SONGS FROM BOOKS 

Dog-without-a-Master goes away (Hai, Tyr 
aie!), 
Devil-in-the-Dusk has run! 

Then: 

Room for his shadow on the grass — let it pass! 

To left and right — stand clear! 
This is the Buyer of the Blade — be afraid! 
This is the great god Tyr! 



THE FOUR ANGELS 

As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree 
The Angel of the Earth came down, and offered 
Earth in fee. 

But Adam did not need it, 
Nor the plough he would not speed it, 
Singing: — *' Earth and Water, Air and Fire,. 
What more can mortal man desire?" 
(The Apple Tree's in bud.) 

As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree 
The Angel of the Waters offered all the Seas in 
fee. 

But Adam would not take 'em. 
Nor the ships he wouldn't make 'em. 
Singing: — "Water, Earth and Air and Fire, 
What more can mortal man desire .f^" 
(The Apple Tree's in leaf.) 

As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree 
The Angel of the Air he offered all the Air in fee. 
But Adam did not crave it, 

239 



240 



SONGS FROM BOOKS 



Nor the flight he wouldn't brave it, 
Singing: — "Air and Water, Earth and Fire, 
What more can mortal man desire?" 
(The Apple Tree's in bloom.) 

As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree 
The Angel of the Fire rose up and not a word 
said he. 

But he wished a flame and made it, 
And in Adam's heart he laid it. 
Singing: — ''Fire, Fire, burning Fire, 

Stand up and reach your heart's 
desire !" 
(The Apple Blossom's set.) 

As Adam was a-working outside of Eden- Wall, 
He used the Earth, he used the Seas, he used the 
Air and all; 

And out of black disaster 
He arose to be the master 

Of Earth and Water, Air and Fire, 
But never reached his heart's desire ! 
(The Apple Tree's cut down!) 



A SONG OF KABIR 

My brother kneels, so saith Kabir, 

To stone and brass in heathen-wise, 

But in my brother's voice I hear 

My own unanswered agonies. 

His God is as his fates assign 

His prayer is all the world's — and mine! 



£41 



FIRST LINE INDEX 



About the time that taverns 

shut . . . . 
After the sack of the City 

when Rome was sunk to a 



name 



All day long to the judgment- 
seat 

All the world over, nursing 
their scars 

Alone upon the housetops to 
t*he North 

And if ye doubt the tale I 
tell 

"And some are sulky, while 
some will plunge" . 

And they were stronger 
hands than mine . 

As Adam lay a-dreaming 
beneath the Apple Tree . 

B 

Beasts are very wise. The 
Beat ofiF in our last fight were 

we? 

Because I sought it far from 

men 

Beesl Bees! HarJc to your 

bees! 

Before my spring I garnered 

autumn's gain 
Between the waving tufts of 

jungle-grass .... 
Bricklayer: I tell this tale, 

which is strictly true. 

The 

By the Hoof of the Wild 

Goatuptossed .... 



Pag 


c 

Celt in all his variants from 


Page 


223 


Builth to Ballyhoo, The . 
Cities and Thrones and 


65 




Powers 


xi 


200 


Cry "Murder" in the mar- 






ket-place and each . . 


51 


70 


D 




176 


Dark children of the mere 




189 


and marsh .... 
Doors were wide, the story 


171 


174 


saith. The 


17S 


52 


E 




190 


Eddi, priest of St. Wilfrid 
Excellent herbs had our 


39 


239 


fathers of old .... 


101 



172 
110 
111 
138 
174 
170 

210 



Eyes aloft, over dangerous 
places 



183 



168 



Farmer of the Augustan Age, 
A 72 

For a season there must be 
pain 152 

From the wheel and the drift 
of Things 154 

Q 

" Goldisfor the mistress " . . 32; 

Go stalk the red deer o'er 
the heather 51 

Gull shall whistle in his 
wake, the blind wave 
break in fire. The . . •_ 93 



243 



FIRST LINE INDEX 



H 

Harry, our King in England, 

from London town is gone 
He drank strong waters and 

his speech was coarse 
Here come I to my own 

again 

"How far is St. Helena from 

a little child at play?" . 



Page 



216 



55 



121 



60 



3 



I 

I am the land of their 

fathers 

I closed and drew for my 

love's sake 19 

"If I have taken the com- 
mon clay" ..... 114 
If I were hanged on the 

highest hill .... 
I followed my Duke ere I 

was a lover .... 
If Thought can reach to 

Heaven 

If you can keep your head 

when all about you 
If you wake at midnight, 

and hear a horse's feet 
I have been given my charge 

to keep 42 

I know not in Whose hands 

are laid 124 

I'm just in love with all these 

three 

In the daytime, when she 

moved about me . 
**I see the grass shake in the 

sun for leagues on either 

hand" 

It was not in the open fight . 
I was very well pleased with 

what I knowed 



192 



21 



136 



119 



213 



10 



54 



30 
53 



12 



L» Page 

Land of our Birth, we pledge 
to thee 117 

Lark will make her hymn to 
God, The 114 

Law whereby my lady 

moves. The 185 

'Less you want your toes 
trod off you'd better get 
back at once .... 176 

*^Let us now 'praise famous 
men" 95 

Life's all getting and giving . 166 

Look, you have cast out love ! 5 

M 

Mithras, God of the Morn- 
ing, our trumpets waken 
the Wall! 44 

Much I owe to the Land that 
grew 129 

My brother kneels, so saith 
Kabir .241 

My father's father saw it 
not 76 

My new cut ashlar takes the 
light 37 

N 

Neither the harps nor the 
crowns amused ... 140 

Not though you die to-night, 
O Sweet, and wail . . 52 

Not with an outcry to Allah 
nor any complaining . , 63 

Now it is not good for the 
Christian's health to hus- 
tle the Aryan brown . . 110 

Now we are come to our 
Kingdom ..... 17 



o 



Jubal sang of the Wrath of 
God 



Of all the trees that grow so 

fair 23 

Oh, little did the Wolf- 
91 Child care 196 

244 



FIRST LINE INDEX 



Old Horn to All Atlantic 

said 

Old Mother Laidinwool 
had nigh twelve months 
been dead" .... 

Once we feared The Beast 

One man in a thousand, 
Solomon says .... 

Our Fathers in a wondrous 



age 



Our Lord Who did the Ox 
command 

Our sister sayeth such and 
such 

Over the edge of the purple 
down 



Pit where the buffalo cooled 
his hide 

Prophets have honour all 
over the Earth .... 



Queen Bess was Harry's 
daughter 

R 

Ride with an idle whip, ride 
with an unused heel 

Rome never looks where she 
treads 

Roses red and roses white 



See you the ferny ride that 
steals 

She dropped the bar, she 
shot the bolt, she fed the 
fire anew 

Shove off from the wharf- 
edge! Steady! 

So we settled it all when the 
storm was done 

Stone's throw out on either 
hand, A 



Page 
229 



142 
236 

56 
104 

35 
187 
150 



55 
90 

145 

53 

78 
182 



193 

178 

113 

54 



"Stopped in the straight Page 
when the race was his 
own!" 51 

Stranger within my gate. 
The 80 

Strangers drawn from the 
ends of the earth ... 14 



Take of English earth as 

much 28 

Tell it to the locked-up 

trees 26 

The torn boughs trailing o'er 

the tusks aslant . . . 171 
There are three degrees of 

bliss ...... 126 

There is pleasure in the wet, 

wet clay . . . . . 112 
There is sorrow enough in 

the natural way . . . 134 
There's a convict more in 

the Central Jail . . . 175 
There's no wind along these 

seas 234r 

There was a strife 'twixt 

man and maid . . . . llii 
There were three friends that 

buried the fourth . . 115 
They burnt a corpse upon 

the sand 5S 

They killed a child to please 

the Gods 170 

They shut the road through 

the woods 8 

This I saw when the rites 

were done 109 

Three things make earth 

unquiet 99 

Thrones, Powers, Domin- 
ions, Peoples, Kings . . 74 
To-night, God knows what 

thing shall tide ... 54 
To the Heavens above us 131 

u 



Unto whose use the pregnant 
suns ar3 poised 



177 



245 



FIRST LINE INDEX 



"Valour and Innocence . 

w 

Weald is good, the Downs 

are best. The .... 
We meet in an evil land . 
What is a woman that you 

forsake her .... 
What is the moral.? Who 

rides may read .... 
** What's that that hirples at 

my side?" 

When a lover hies abroad 
When first by Eden Tree . 
When I left Rome for 

Lalage's sake 
When the drums begin to 

beat 

When the Earth was sick 

and the Skies were gray . 
When the Great Ark, in Vigo 

Bay 



Page 
148 



11 

109 

48 

58 

227 
111 
106 

82 

232 

50 

88 



When the robust and Brass- Pa8« 
bound Man commissioned 
first for sea .... 207 

When the water's counte- 
nance 221 

Where's the lamp that Hero 
lit 127 

Who gives him the Bath . 46 

Who knows the heart of the 
Christian? .... 67 

Wind took off with the sun- 
set. The 198 

Wolf-cub at even lay hid in 
the corn. The . ... 114 

World hath set its heavy 
yoke, The 52 



Yet at the last, ere our spear- 
men had found him . . 115 
Your jar of Virginny . . 84 
Yoiu" tiercel's too long at 
hack. Sir . , , , , 156 



246 



TITLE INDEX 



Astrologer's Song, An 

B 



Page 
131 



Ballad of Minepit Shaw, 




The 


223 


** Beast and Man in India" 




— Chapter Headings . 


170 


Elephant, The . . . 


171 


Goat, The . . . . 


170 


Oxen, The ... . 


171 


Pigs and Buffaloes . . 


172 


Bee Boy's Song, The . . 


138 


Bees and the Flies, The 


72 


Blue Roses 


182 


British-Roman Song, A . 


76 


Brookland Road 


12 


Butterflies 


183 


"By the Hoof of the Wild 




Goat' 


168 



Captive, The 

Carol, A 

Chapter Headings: . . 50, 

113, 170, 173, 174. 177 

Charm, A 

Children's Song, The . . 
"Cities and Thrones and 

Powers" 

City of Sleep, The . . . 

Cold Iron 

Cuckoo Song 



63 

35 

109, 

28 
117 

xi 

150 

32 

26 



D 



Dedication, A 



190 



Eddi's Service 
Egg-shell, The 



Fairies' Siege, The 
Four Angels, The 
Frankie's Trade . 



Q 



Gallic's Song 
Gow's Watch 



19S 



4S 
239 
22» 



70 

156 



H 



Hadramauti 0f 

Harp Song of the Dane 

Women 48 

Heriot'sFord . . (. . 227 

Heritage, The . . > . 104 



I 



H 



Jester, The .... 
Jubal and Tubal Cain . 
Juggler's Song, The . . 

K 

Kim — Chapter Headings 
Kingdom, The . . . 



lit 



91 
232 



17T 
If 



247 



TITLE INDEX 



King Henry VII and the 

Shipwrights .... 

King's Task, The . . . 



Life's Handicap — Chapter 
Headings . 

Return of Imray» 

The . . . 
Without Benefit of 
Clergy . . 
Light That Failed, 

— Chapter Headings 

Looking-Glass, The 

Love Song of Har Dyal, 

The 



The 



Page 

216 
200 



173 

173 

174 

113 
145 

189 



M 

Many Inventions — Chap- 
ter Headings .... 

Collected 

Lost Legion, The . 

Matter of Fact, A . . 

My Lord the Ele- 
phant .... 
Mother O' Mine .... 
My Lady's Law .... 
*'My New Cut Ashlar" . 

N 

Naulahka, The — Chapter 

Headings 

Necessitarian, The . 
New Kinghthood, The . 
Nursing Sister, The 

o 

Old Mother Laidinwool . 

Only Son, The ... . 

"Our Fathers Also" . . 

"Our Fathers of Old" . . 



174 
177 
175 
175 

176 

192 

185 

37 



109 

124 

46 

187 



142 
193 

74 
101 



Pict Song, A .... 
Plain Tales from the Hills 
— Chapter Headings . 

Bank Fraud, A . 

Bronckhorst, Di- 
vorce Case, The . 

By Word of Mouth . . 

Conversion of Aure- 
lain McGoggin, 
The ... . 

Cupid's Arrow . 

False Dawn . 

His Wedded Wife . 

In Error .... 

In the House of 
Suddhoo ... 

In the Pride of His 
Youth . . . 

Lispeth .... 

Other Man, The . 

Pig 

Rout of the White 
Hussars, The . 

Thrown Away . 

Tod's Amendment . 
"Poor Honest Men" 
Poseidon's Law . 
"Power of the Dog, The," 
Prairie, The .... 
Prayer of Miriam Cohen 

The 

Prodigal Son, The . 
Prophets at Home . 
Puck's Song . . . . 
Puzzler, The .... 



Queen's Men, The . . 

R 

Rabbi's Song, The . 
Recall, The . . . . 
Return of the Children, The 
"Rimini" .... 
Romulus and Remus 
Run of the Downs, The . 



Page 

78 

50 
55 

54 

52 



53 
55 
54, 
51 
53 

54 

51 
50 
50 
51 

53 
52 

52 

84 

207 

134 

30 

154 
121 

90 
5 

65 



148 



136 

3 

140 

82 
196 

11 



248 



TITLE INDEX 



Page 



iack of the Gods, The . 


. 14 


St. Helena Lullaby, A , 


. 60 


School Song, A . . . 


, 95 


" Servant When He Reigneth, 


A" 


. 99 


Sir Richard's Song . 


. 21 


Smuggler's Song, A . . 


. 213 


Song of Kabir, A . 


241 


Song of the Fifth River 


106 


Song of the Men's Side . 


236 


Song of the Red War-Boat 


178 


Song of Travel, A . . 


127 


Song to Mithras, A . 


44 


Stranger, The . , . 


80 


T 




Tarrant Moss .... 


19 


Thorkild's Song , , . , 


234 



Thousandth Man, The 

Three-Part Song, A . 
Tree Song, A . 
Truthful Song, A . 
Two-sided Man, The 



Voortrekker, The . . . 

w 

Way Through the Woods, 

The 

Wet Litany, The . . 
"When the Great Ark" 
Widower, The . . . 
Winners, The 
Wishing Caps, The . . 



Page 

56 

10 

23 

210 

129 



93 



8 
221 

88 
152 

58 
166 




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